To exhibit idleness and not performing Salat at proper times is a Major sin.
Originally Taken form the Book 'Kitabul Kabayer' written by Imam Az-Jahabi (Rah)
The Almighty Allah Subhanahu Taala said in the Holy Quran: “Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have given up As-Salat (The prayers) and have followed lusts, so they will be thrown in Hell. Except those who repent and believe (in the oneness of Allah and His Messenger Muhammad (SWS) and work righteousness. Such will enter paradise and they will not be wronged in aught.”
Surah Al-Maryam (19:59:60)
It is reported by Hajrat Ibn Abbas (RA) that the meaning of destroying Salat is not only to completely give it up or abandon it. Instead it also means to perform salat after its appropriate time or to make it “Kazaa” (to delay one salat until it is time for the next one.) A well known Tabeyi, Hajrat Syed Ibnul Musayeb (RA) has said that it means to keep one salat hanging until it is time for the subsequent one. The person who delays Salat in this manner and dies without seeking repentance, Almighty Allah has threatened him to be casted into a well called “Gaai”, which is a very disgusting and dirty place in Hell. The Almighty Allah subhanahu Taala said in the Holy Quran:
“So woe to those performers of Salat (prayers) (hypocrites). Those who delay their salat (Prayers from their stated fixed times).”
Surah Al-Maun (107:4:5)
Hazrat Sa’aad Bin Abi Wakkas (RA) said: I asked Allah‟s Messenger (SWS) about the people who are lazy in performing salat He replied, although those who delay salat from their fixed timings are named as Muslims but, due to laziness and delay in performing salat, they have been warned of „Wayyel‟. „Wayyel‟ means fearful punishment. Some are of opinion that „Wayyel‟ is such an extremely hot place in hell that if all the mountains and volcanoes of the earth were to be casted in it, they would burn violently and melt instantly. Thus, this place has been predestined as a final dwelling place for those who are idle and delay in performing salat and die without seeking repentance sincerely.
Bazzar
The Almighty Allah subhanahu Taala has declared in the Holy Quran: “O you who believe let not your properties or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah and whosoever does that, then they are the losers.”
Surah Al-Munafiqun (63:9)
The scholars of the Holy Quran Have explained: In the above ayah “the remembrance of Allah” means to pray the five times of salat in a day. So, those who do not perform at stated times because of being busy in earning wealth; as in looking after his trade and business, agriculture and properties and fulfilling the needs of his family will suffer great loss Allah‟s Messenger (SWS) has said. “On the day of Judgement, the first thing the people will be asked to account for amongst their deeds is salat. Relief will be granted to those who have performed it properly, otherwise failure, despair and loss is inevitable for them.”
- Tabarani
Regarding the state of those who will be in the Hell, Allah Subhanbahu Ta‟ala has said: “The dwellers of paradise will ask them) „What has caused you to enter Hell?‟ They will say: „We were not of those who used to offer the salat, nor we used to feed Al-Misqin…..‟So no intercession of intercessors will be of any use to them.”
- Surah Al-Muddaththir (74:42:48)
Our Beloved prophet Muhammad (SWS) has said, “Salat is the first thing that differentiates us Muslims (believers) from the non-muslims (non-believers). He, who has abandoned salat, has acted like a kaafir (Disbeliever).”
- Ahmed, Abu Dawood, Nasayi, Tirmidhi
Another Hadith states, “For a Mumin, becoming a kaafir (Disbeliever) is just as far away as leaving salat.”
- Ahmed, Muslim, Abu Dawood, Nasayi, Tirmidhi
Imam Bukhari narrated: Said our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (SWS), “He who has missed Asr salat has wasted all his good deeds.” Mentioned in the sunan (Hadith) Books : Prophet Muhammad (SWS) has said, “ He who has left salat at will has left the care of Allah.” He (SWS) also said, “I have been ordered to fight with the people until they declare that there is no Lord but Allah and offers salat and give Zakah. When they will perform them perfectly, their life and wealth will be safe from my hands unless without proper reason. They shall be accountable to Allah.”
- Bukhari , Muslim
Allah’s Messenger (SWS) said in another hadith, “The person who will offer salat appropriately, on the Day of Judgement, it will appear to him and light his way and grant him relief. But for those who will not offer salat appropriately, neither will it be their glittering lamp nor will it accompany them or grant them relief. Rather they shall find themselves amongst Pharaoh, Kaarun, Haaman and Ubai Bin Khalaf on the day of Judgement.” - Ahmed, Tabarani
With reference to the context of the above Hadith some scholars have said: the reason why those who do not perform salat accordingly will be counted as companions to the above mentioned four Kaafirs is that they abandon salat for four different reasons:
(i) Who leaves Salat for earning money and for protecting wealth shall be resurrected in the day of Qyamah with Kaarun and be with him.
(ii) Who leaves Salat for being tied up in national or political issues shall be resurrected in the day of Qyamah with Pharaoh and be with him.
(iii) Who leaves salat for administrative reasons shall be resurrected in the day of Qyamah with Hamaan and be with him.
(iv) Who leaves salat due to job or trade affairs shall be resurrected in the day of Qyamah with Meccan businessman Ubai Bin Khalaf be with him in the Hell.
Hazrat Omar (RA) has said, “The leavers of salat will not be able to avail any opportunities offered by Islam and will not have any assurance of security.” Narrated by Imam Ahmed from Ma‟aaz Bin Jabaal (RA): Allah‟s Messenger (SWS) said, “He who leaves compulsory salat intentionally shall be expelled from the care and responsibility of Allah Subhanahu Ta‟ala.”
- Ahmed, Tabarani
Imam Baihaki narrated from his own chain: Hazrat Omar (RA) has said, “A man appeared in the presence of Prophet Muhammad (SWS) and asked Him „O Allah‟s apostle! Which deed of Islam is most liked by Allah?‟ Allah‟s Messenger (SWS) replied „To perform Salat at proper times. He who has left Salat has left his religion (Islam). Salat is a pillar of Religion (Islam).” Once when Hazrat Omar (RA) was wounded by an assailant, He was called upon “O Amirul Muminin( The Supreme leader of Muslims) ! It is time for salat, “He answered “Yes, I shall perform salat. He who abandons it has no relation with Islam.” Then He offered his salat, although blood was trickling down from His would.
Tabeyi Hazrat Abdullah Bin Shakik (RAH) said that the companion of Prophet Muhammad (SWS) did not consider the leaving of any good deeds to kufri other than the leaving of Salat. Hazrat Ali (RA) said, “He who doesn‟t offer salat is a Kaafir.”
- Tirmidhi, Hakeem
Hazrat Ibn Mas‟ud (RA) said, “He who doesn‟t pray Salat cannot claim to have any religion.” Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA) narrated: The person who willingly leaves even one time of Salah shall earn Allah‟s wrath upon meeting Him.
- Muhammad Bin Nasr
Allah‟s Messenger (SWS) has said, “The person who doesn‟t perform salat, Allah will not accept any of his good deeds, Thus, every good deed of his shall be useless and unaccounted for.”
- Tabarani
Imam Ibn Hazm (RAH) said, “The most hateful amongst the major sins, after shirks, is to delay in performing salat and to kill a Mumin unlawfully.” Aiyub Shukhtiyani (RAH) has said the same as Hazrat Ibrahim Nakhyi (RAH): He who has left salat has acted like a Kaafir. Allah‟s Messenger (SWS) said, “Whenever a slave of Allah offers salat at the prime stated time, that salat flies off to the highest sky, spreading emanations of light on its way, and reaches the throne of Allah. Then it prays to Allah for forgiveness till the Day of Judgement by saying: „May Allah save you the way you have saved me.‟ And when a slave of Allah delays in performing his Salat, that Salat rises to the heavens in pitch darkness. When it reaches the heavens it is wrapped up like a bundle of old clothes and is thrown on his face and keeps saying: „May Allah spoil you the way you have spoiled me.
- Tabarani
Narrated by Hazrat Abdulillah Bin Amar Ibnul Aas (RA) Our Prophet Muhammad (SWS) said, “The prayers of three people will not be accepted by Allah. They are (i) The Leader who is disliked by his followers/people in society (ii) The person who diminishes the freedom of an independent man and (iii) The person who prays salat after its fixed stated time.” - Abu Dawood Allah‟s Messenger (SWS) has also said, “He who cumulatively prays the salat of two times without proper cause commits an abominable major sin.” - Haakem It is narrated in Sunani Abu Dawood that Prophet Muhammad (SWS) has said, “When a child steps in the age of seven, order him for Salat, when he steps in the age of ten, punish him for not praying Salat”. (In another description, the phrase “separate his bed” has been added.)
The opinions of various Imams differ regarding the punishment for the leavers of Salat as per Islamic Shariyah. Imam Malik, Imam Shafeyi and Imam Ahmed are of opinion that those who willingly abandon Salat should be beheaded. Then again on the subject of whether a person shall become a kaafir if, without fair reason, he doesn‟t offer Salat within the fixed stated times, Hazrat Ibrahim Nakhyi, Aiyub Shukhtiyani, Abdullah bin Mubarak, Ahmed Ibn Hambal and Ish‟haak bin Rahwah(RAH) said, “The leavers of Salat without proper cause will be considered as kaafirs at the end of the stated time of the Salat.” As evidence they have presented a hadith that states: Allah‟s messenger (SWS) said, “The difference between a Mumin and a Kaafir is the act of abandoning Salat.”
It is stated in a Hadith; the person who will preserve the five times of Salat properly, Allah will reward him with great respect by
(1) Saving him from poverty
(2) Releasing him from punishment in grave
(3) Placing his list of good deeds on his right hand
(4) Letting him cross the „Pulsiraat‟ at lightning speed and
(5) entering him in Paradise without accounting for his deeds.
For the person who will be idle in offering salat, Allah has reserved fifteen (15) punishments: five (5) in present life, three (3) on death bed, three (3) in the grave and four (4) after resurrection. The five in present life are: (1) He shall have a reduced life span (2) The lustre of good deeds will start to disappear from his face (3) Allah will not reward him for any honest deeds (4) None of his prayers (call for mercy) will be accepted and (5) He will have no share in the prayers of the righteous. The three on death bed are (1) He shall die of disgrace and insult (2) He shall die of starvation (3) He shall die of such thirst which cannot be satisfied even if he drinks all the waters of the oceans of the earth. The three in the grave are: (1) His grave will compress him so furiously that his rib-bones will be crushed and will be shifted from one side to another (2) His grave will be filled with such a fire that he will suffer day and night and shift sides on fire-lit coals. (3) There will be a huge, terrifying and poisonous snake called “Ash-Shujaul Akra” in his grave that will continuously bite him till the Day of Judgement, reminding him of delaying Salats. Finally, the four on the Day of Resurrection are (1) He will be strictly accounted for his deeds. (2) He shall have the wrath of the Almighty Allah upon him (3) He shall be thrown into Hell (4) (Given in another description) he will have three things written on his forehead
(i) „ O destroyer of Allah‟s right‟
(ii) „ O the unfortunate, cursed by Allah‟
(iii) „As you did not protect Allah‟s right, you shall be deceived of His mercy.‟
It is narrated by Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA): On the Day of Judgement, a man will be made to stand before Allah on His bench, Allah will order him to be casted into Hell. The man will plead „Ya Allah! Why such an order?‟ Allah Subhanahu Ta‟ala will announce „For delaying in offering salat and for swearing falsely upon Me.‟ Allah‟s Messenger (SWS) unitedly prayed for His Companions: „Ya Allah! Do not make us imprisoned and unfortunate.‟ Then He (SWS) asked the companions who were present: „Do you know who are the imprisoned and unfortunate?‟ The Companions said: „Allah and His Messenger knows the best!‟ In reply the Prophet Muhammad (SWS) said, “Those who have abandoned Salat.” It has been narrated in another Hadith that the first to have their face blackened on the Day of Judgement are those who do not offer Salat. There is a valley called „Mulhaam‟ in Hell, which is filled with innumerable snakes. Each snake is as thick as the neck of a Camel and as long as the distance covered in one month. They will be striking the leavers of Salat and poison of each bite will remain effective for seventy years, so that their flesh will rot and crumble.
Following is an event in History: A woman from Bani Israel appeared in the court of Prophet Musa (ASM) and urged, “O Allah‟s Messenger! I have committed a great sin, for which I have repented to Allah. Please pray for me as if Allah forgives me and accepts my repentance?” Prophet Musa (ASM) asked, “What was your sin?” she replied, “I had conceived a child through adultery and later on killed it.” Prophet Musa (ASM) said, “O Nasty Woman! Leave this place immediately or fire from the Sky shall shower upon us and burn us.” Broken hearted, the woman left the court. At once Angel Gabriel (Jibrael) came down and said, “O Musa! Allah wants to know, though He is All-knowing, why you have turned away this repentant? Do you not see those who are inferior than her?” Prophet Musa (ASM) then asked, “O Gabriel (Jibrael)! Who can be more inferior and sinful than her?” Angel Gabriel (Jibrael) replied, “Those who abandon Salat at will.” Thus, if the result of delaying salat without due reason is so fearful, is it not worth pondering the consequence of abandoning Salat completely?
May Allah Subhanahu Ta‟ala grant us the ability to offer SALAT at its fixed stated times. Ameen!
Hey there! Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
When you create an account, we remember exactly what you've read, so you always come right back where you left off. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. And you can like posts and share your thoughts. Sign Up
Hide
Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks