"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, enjoined fifty prayers upon my Ummah, and I came back with that until I passed by Musa, peace be upon him, who said: 'What has your Lord enjoined upon your Ummah?' I said: 'He has enjoined fifty prayers on them.' Musa said to me: 'Go back to your Lord, the Mighty and Sublime, for your Ummah will not be able to do that.' So I went back to my Lord, the Mighty and Sublime, and He reduced a portion of it. Then I came back to Musa and told him, and he said: 'Go back to you Lord, for your Ummah will not be able to do that.' So I went back to my Lord, the Mighty and Sublime, and He said: 'They are five (prayers) but they are fifty (in reward), and the Word that comes from Me cannot be changed.' [1] I came back to Musa and he said: 'Go back to your Lord.' I said: 'I feel too shy before my Lord, the Mighty and Sublime.'"[1]See Surah Qaf 50:29.
The Book of Salah - Sunan an-Nasa'i 449
This narration from the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) describes the divine origin of the five daily prayers and demonstrates Allah's infinite mercy toward His servants.
Divine Legislation and Prophetic Intercession
The initial command of fifty prayers demonstrates the spiritual weight of worship, while the subsequent reduction reveals Allah's compassion and understanding of human capacity.
Prophet Musa's (peace be upon him) intervention illustrates how earlier prophets care for this Ummah and possess knowledge of human limitations from their own experiences.
The Final Decree: Five in Practice, Fifty in Reward
"They are five but they are fifty in reward" exemplifies Allah's boundless generosity, where a single good deed is multiplied tenfold as mentioned in Quran 6:160.
"The Word that comes from Me cannot be changed" refers to Allah's divine decree being final and unalterable, reflecting His absolute wisdom and sovereignty.
Prophetic Character and Spiritual Etiquette
The Prophet's statement "I feel too shy before my Lord" demonstrates the highest level of spiritual courtesy (adab) and recognition of divine majesty, teaching us the proper attitude when approaching Allah.
This incident occurred during the Night Journey (Isra' wal-Mi'raj), confirming the special status of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and the unique relationship between Allah and His final messenger.