The intention of the esteemed Ayatollah Bahjat remains hidden in his heart. One might say that presence of heart in prayer, and observing its principles, prerequisites and foundations, take precedence over performing it at the earliest time. In other words, praying at the earliest time is necessary for attaining lofty spiritual stations, but by no means sufficient!
If praying at the earliest time were sufficient to attain the highest stations, then some enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) would have attained them—whereas devotion to the Ahl al-Bayt is the key to prayer ...
The delight of praying at the earliest time is like cool water, fresh bread and the springtime of intimate supplication. And above all these, prayer at the earliest time carries the fragrance of God’s good pleasure!
اعْلَمْ يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ أَنَّ لِكُلِّ صَلَاةٍ وَقْتَيْنِ أَوَّلٌ وَ آخِرٌ فَأَوَّلُ الْوَقْتِ رِضْوَانُ اللَّهِ وَ آخِرُهُ عَفْوُ اللَّهِ وَ نَرْوِي أَنَّ لِكُلِّ صَلَاةٍ ثَلَاثَةُ أَوْقَاتٍ أَوَّلٌ وَ أَوْسَطُ وَ آخِرٌ فَأَوَّلُ الْوَقْتِ رِضْوَانُ اللَّهِ وَ أَوْسَطُهُ عَفْوُ اللَّهِ وَ آخِرُهُ غُفْرَانُ اللَّهِ وَ أَوَّلُ الْوَقْتِ أَفْضَلُهُ وَ لَيْسَ لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يَتَّخِذَ آخِرَ الْوَقْتِ وَقْتاً وَ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ آخِرُ الْوَقْتِ لِلْمَرِيضِ وَ الْمُعْتَلِّ وَ الْمُسَافِر
Al-Fiqh al-mansub ila al-Imam al-Rida (The Jurisprudence Attributed to Imam al-Rida), p. 71
Imam al-Rida (peace be upon him): “Every prayer has three times: its beginning, its middle and its end. To pray at the beginning of its time brings God’s good pleasure; to pray in the middle brings His pardon; and to pray at the end brings His forgiveness. The beginning of the time is most meritorious. Prayer should not be delayed until its end, for the end of the time is reserved for the sick, the infirm and the traveller.”
And here are some more gifts related to prayer:
عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ: قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ وَقْتُ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ أَوَّلُ الْوَقْتِ أَفْضَلُ أَوْ أَوْسَطُهُ أَوْ آخِرُهُ فَقَالَ أَوَّلُهُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُحِبُّ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ مَا يُعَجَّلُ.
The Messenger of God (God’s blessings and peace be upon him and his family) said: “God loves a good deed that is done promptly.”
عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: إِنَّ فَضْلَ الْوَقْتِ الْأَوَّلِ عَلَى الْآخِرِ كَفَضْلِ الْآخِرَةِ عَلَى الدُّنْيَا.
Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “The superiority of praying at the beginning of the time over praying at its end is like the superiority of the Hereafter over this world.”
قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَفَضْلُ الْوَقْتِ الْأَوَّلِ عَلَى الْأَخِيرِ خَيْرٌ لِلرَّجُلِ مِنْ وَلَدِهِ وَ مَالِهِ.
Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: “For a believer, praying at the beginning of the time is better than wealth and children.”
قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع اعْلَمْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَ الْوَقْتِ أَبَداً أَفْضَلُ فَعَجِّلْ بِالْخَيْرِ مَا اسْتَطَعْتَ وَ أَحَبُ الْأَعْمَالِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مَا دَاوَمَ الْعَبْدُ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنْ قَلَّ.
Al-Kafi (Islamic edition), vol. 3, p. 274
Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him): “Know that the beginning of the time is always better. So hasten to do good as far as you can. The deeds most beloved to God, the Mighty and Majestic, are those that a servant performs consistently, even if they are few.”
عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ص مَنِ اهْتَمَّ بِمَوَاقِيتِ الصَّلَاةِ لَمْ يَسْتَكْمِلْ لَذَّةَ الدُّنْيَا.
Al-Kafi (Islamic edition), vol. 3, p. 275
Imam al-Sajjad (peace be upon him): “Whoever gives due attention to the times of prayer will not fully enjoy the pleasures of this world.”