Major Sins: Not Performing Salaah – Part 1

Allah, the Most High, says,

“But after them there followed generations to come who missed Salaah and followed after lusts, soon then, will they face destruction, except those who repent and believe, and work righteousness.”

(Maryam: 59-60)

Commenting on the above verses (Ayat), Ibn ‘Abbas Radiallahu Anhu said,

“Allah’s statement, “Who missed Salaahs does not mean that they did not perform it at all but rather they did not perform it in its due time.”

Sa’id Ibn AI-Mussaiyyib Rahmatullahi Alayhi, Imam of the Tabi’een (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “It is he who postpones the Dhuhr (Early Afternoon Salaah) until the time of Asr Salaah (Late Afternoon Salaah) and so are Maghrib (Sunset Salaah) until’ Esha’ (Evening Salaah), Esha’ until Fajr (Dawn Salaah) and Fajr until the sun rises. If someone dies persisting in such habits and does not repent to Allah, Allah promises to make him face Ghayy (destruction). But Ghayy may also be the name of a valley in the Hell whose bottom is very deep and tastes extremely bitter.

Allah, the Most High, says,

”So woe to the worshipers who are neglectful of their Salaah.”

(Ma’un: 4-5)

Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqas Radiallahu Anhu related, “I asked Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam about the meaning of “the worshipers who are neglectful of their Salaah.’ He said, “It is the delaying of performing Salaah in its definite time.” The word (Wayl) in the Ayah may refer to severe torture or it may be the name of a valley in the Hell. Were the whole mountains of the world brought in such valley it would melt because of severe heat. This is the abode of those who are not serious in Salaah unless they repent to Allah and regret for what they have done.

Allah, the Almighty, says,

 “O ye who believe! Let not your riches or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah, if any act thus, surely they are the losers.”

(AI-Munafiqun: 9)

The Mufassireen said, “The remembrance of Allah in the above Ayah means the five daily Salaahs. Therefore, whoever preoccupies himself with his property, trade, livelihood or children rather than performing Salaah in its definite time will be a loser.

 Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said,

“The first of one’s deeds that he shall be called to account for on the Day of Judgment is Salaah. If he performed it well, he will be prosperous. Otherwise, he will be loser.”

 Allah, the Most High, says,

“What led you into Hell-Fire? They will say, ‘We were not of those who performed salaah, nor were we of those who feed the indigent. But we used to talk vanities with vain talkers, and we used to deny the Day of Judgment until there came to us (the Hour) that is certain. Then will no intercession of any intercessor profit them.”

 (Al-Muddathir: 42-48)

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said,

“The covenant that distinguishes between us and them consists of salaah: Whoever leaves it has committed kufr.” Tirmidhi

 It was related that the Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said,

“Between a man and kufr is the nonperformance of the Salaah.” Muslim

We were with Buraida in a battle on a cloudy day and he said, “Offer the `Asr prayer early as Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “Whoever leaves the `Asr prayer, all his (good) deeds will be annulled.” Bukhari

“Whoever neglects the Salaah intentionally will be free from Allah’s covenant.” Haythami and Ahmed

“I have been commanded to fight people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah and perform the Salaah, and pay Zakah. If they say it, they have saved their blood and possessions from me, except for the right of Islam over them, and their final reckoning is with Allah.” Bukhari and Muslim

“Whoever keeps on performing Salaah (in its due time), it will be a light, a proof and redemption for him on the Day of Judgment. Otherwise, he will be assembled with Fir’oun, Qarun Haman and ‘Ubai Ibn Khalaf .”Darmi and Ahmad

‘Umar Radiallahu Anhu said, “Whoever neglects salaah is beyond the fold of Islam.” Malik

One of the scholars of sacred knowledge said, “He (the one who neglects the Salaah) will be assembled with these four people because he is either preoccupied from performing Salaah by property, kingdom, ministry or trade. If he is preoccupied by wealth, he will be assembled with Qarun. If by kingdom, he will be with Pharaoh. If by ministry, he will be with Haman and if by trade, he will be with Ubai Ibn Khalaf.”

 Mu’adh Ibn Jabal Radiallahu Anhu related that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said,

“Whoever intentionally missed an obligatory Salaah thereby becomes an unbeliever.”

‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab said, “A man came to Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam and asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what are most beloved deeds to Allah in Islam?”

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said, “To perform Salaah on time, and whoever neglects Salaah has no religion. Salaah is a pillar of Islam.” Baihaqi

Source: Major Sins