فضل الصلاة
‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “There is no Muslim man who, when an obligatory prayer becomes due, perfects its ablution, its focus and humility, and its bowing, except that it becomes an expiation for the past sins, unless major sins are committed; and that continues for all time.”
عن عثمان بن عفان -رضي الله عنه- عن النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قال: "ما منْ امْرِئٍ مسلم تَحْضُرُهُ صلاة مكتوبة فَيُحْسِنُ وضوءها؛ وخشوعها، وركوعها، إلا كانت كفَّارة لما قبلها من الذنوب ما لم تُؤتَ كبيرة، وذلك الدهر كلَّه".
شرح الحديث :
“There is no Muslim man” and also no Muslim woman. “When an obligatory prayer becomes due”, meaning: its time comes while he is under the obligation to offer it. “Perfects its ablution.” He performs it in the proper manner prescribed by the Shariah. "And its focus and humility and its bowing", meaning: and all its other pillars. He fulfills all of these in the most proper way. Perfection of ablution means observance of all its obligatory and supererogatory elements as well as its ethics. Proper focus and humility means turning to Allah wholeheartedly and being devoted to Him completely. "Except that it", meaning: this prayer “Becomes an expiation for", meaning: atonement for. “The past sins", meaning: the minor sins. “Unless major sins are committed", meaning: unless he perpetrates any of the grave sins. “And that”, meaning: expiating the minor sins by virtue of perfection of ablution and focus and humility in prayer. “Continues for all time." This is a reminder that the expiation for minor sins through pious acts generally applies to all times and eras and is not limited to the best era, that of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions.