Hadith Reference

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 4 - The Book on Purification

Arabic Text

مِفْتَاحُ الصَّلَاةِ الطُّهُورُ، وَتَحْرِيمُهَا التَّكْبِيرُ، وَتَحْلِيلُهَا التَّسْلِيمُ

Commentary on the Hadith

This noble hadith establishes the fundamental importance of purification (wudu') in the Islamic faith. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used the metaphor of a "key" to illustrate that just as a key is essential to unlock a door, so too is wudu' essential to unlock the prayer, and prayer is essential to unlock Paradise.

The scholars explain that this indicates the prayer is not accepted without purification, as established by the Quranic verse: "O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles" (5:6).

Imam at-Tirmidhi classified this hadith as hasan sahih (good and authentic), and it demonstrates the comprehensive nature of Islam where outward purification leads to inward purity, and proper worship leads to eternal reward.

Scholarly Insights

Ibn al-Mubarak said: "This hadith contains one-third of knowledge because it combines action, intention, and adherence to the Sunnah."

Al-Mubarakpuri commented: "The prayer is the pillar of Islam and the best of deeds, while purification is its condition and foundation. Therefore, the one who neglects purification has neglected the prayer, and the one who neglects the prayer has neglected the path to Paradise."