I have a question: Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, went for Miraaj and it was then that 5 times prayer was made compulsory. First he went to Allaah and was ordered to pray 50 times and then decreased to 5. My question is Allaah Knows what to give His creation. Why did He first give many and then reduce the number? Allaah Knows everything then why did this happen? Is this Hadeeth a strong one?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds.  I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

Imaam Al-Bukhari and Imaam Muslim both, reported the story of the night journey of Al-Mi’raaj (the Ascension) of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to the heavens. At first Allaah The Almighty enjoined fifty prayers on the Muslims in a day and a night (i.e. in the twenty four hours).

However, when the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, descended and met Prophet Moosa Moosa stopped him and asked, "O Muhammad, what did your Lord enjoin upon you?" The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, replied: "He enjoined upon me to perform fifty prayers in a day and a night." Moosa said, "Your followers cannot do that; go back so that your Lord may reduce it for you and for them." So, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, turned to Jibreel (Gabriel) as if he wanted to consult him about that issue. Jibreel told him of his opinion, saying, "Yes, if you wish." So Jibreel ascended with the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to Allaah The Almighty and he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said while he was in his place: “O Lord, please lighten our burden as my followers cannot do that.” So Allaah The Almighty deducted ten prayers for him, whereupon he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, returned to Moosa who stopped him again and kept on sending him back to his Lord, until the enjoined prayers were reduced to only five prayers, for which the reward is of fifty prayers.

Allaah is All-Knower, All-Wise, He knows what to enjoin on His slaves and what not to enjoin. Perhaps the wisdom due in that Allaah The Almighty first enjoined on us fifty prayers and then reduced them to five is for us to realize how merciful is He towards us, so that the people would know that Allaah The Almighty reduced the prayers enjoined on them to five with the reward of fifty prayers. If Allaah The Almighty had first enjoined on us to perform five prayers only in a day and night, we would not realize how Merciful and Gracious Allaah The Almighty is to us. Finally, Allaah The Almighty Said (what means): “The Word that comes from Me does not change, so it will be as I enjoined the obligatory prayers and reduced its number as a sign of Mercy from Me.”

Therefore, it is obvious from this reduction of prayers from fifty to five that it is from the mercy of Allaah The Almighty on His slaves.

Allaah Knows best.