Fifty Daily Prayers for the Ummah – A Remarkable Event of Mi'raj

On the night of Mi'raj (Isra and Mi'raj), the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ascended through the heavens and reached into the Divine Presence of Allah. During this extraordinary journey, Allah granted His beloved Prophet a special gift that became the most significant act of worship for the Muslim Ummah — Salah (prayer).

How many prayers were initially prescribed?

According to Hadith, during Mi'raj, Allah initially made fifty (50) daily prayers obligatory upon the Prophet (PBUH) and his followers.

As the Prophet (PBUH) was returning, he met Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) who said:

“Your Ummah will not be able to perform that many prayers. Return to your Lord and request a reduction.”

The Prophet (PBUH) went back and forth between Allah and Musa (AS), and gradually, the number of daily prayers was reduced from fifty to five.

Reward of Fifty for Praying Five

Eventually, when the number was reduced to five daily prayers, Allah said:

"O My beloved Messenger! Though they are five in number, they are equal to fifty in reward. I do not change My word."

(Sahih Muslim)

That means the Ummah will receive the reward of fifty prayers even if they perform only five daily prayers.

Lessons from This Event

✅ Salah is one of the core pillars of Islam.

✅ It was the first act of worship made obligatory by Allah.

✅ This command came directly from Allah without any intermediary — a unique honor.

✅ Through the compassion of the Prophet (PBUH) and the advice of Musa (AS), ease and mercy were granted to the Ummah.

Conclusion

The reduction of the fifty daily prayers to five during the Night of Mi'raj is a clear sign of Allah’s boundless mercy. We must honor this priceless gift by faithfully performing the five daily prayers and fulfilling our responsibilities as members of the Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).