Knowledge Every Muslim Should Know (Book One)

Negligence of Prayer

NEGLIGENCE OF PRAYER

 

Article I: Neglecting Prayers

Imam Ahmad said that the one who does not pray because of laziness is a kaafir. This is the more correct view and is that indicated by the evidence of the Book of Allah and the sunnah of His Messenger, and by the words of the salaf and the proper understanding. (Al-Sharh al-Mumti’ ‘ala Zaad al-Mustanqi’, 2/26).

Anyone who examines the texts of the Qur’aan and sunnah will see that they indicate that the one who neglects the prayer is guilty of kufr akbar (major disbelief) which puts him beyond the pale of Islam.

Among the evidence to be found in the Qur’aan is:

The aayah (interpretation of the meaning): “But if they repent [by rejecting shirk (polytheism) and accept Islamic Monotheism], perform a-salaat (iqaamat a-salaat) and give zakaat, then they are your brethren in religion.” [al-Tawbah 9:11]

The evidence derived from this aayah is that Allah defined three things that the mushrikeen have to do in order to eliminate the differences between them and us: they should repent from shirk, they should perform prayer, and they should pay zakaah. If they repent from shirk but they do not perform the prayer or pay zakaah, then they are not our brethren in faith; if they perform the prayer but do not pay zakaah, then they are not our brethren in faith. Brotherhood in religion cannot be effaced except when a person goes out of the religion completely; it cannot be effaced by fisq (immoral conduct) or lesser types of kufr.

Allah also says (interpretation of the meaning): “Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have given up a-salaat (the prayers) [i.e. made their salaat (prayers) to be lost, either by not offering them or by not offering them perfectly or by not offering them in their proper fixed times] 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), and work righteousness. Such will enter Paradise and they will not be wronged in aught.” [Maryam 19:59-60]

The evidence derived from this aayah is that Allah referred to those who neglect the prayer and follow their desires, “Except those who repent and believe,” which indicates that at the time when they are neglecting their prayers and following their desires, they are not believers.

The evidence of the sunnah that proves that the one who neglects the prayer is a kaafir includes the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): “Between a man and shirk and kufr there stands his neglect of the prayer.” Narrated by Muslim in Kitaab al-Eemaan from Jaabir ibn Abd-Allah from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

It was narrated that Buraydah ibn al-Husayb (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say, “The covenant that distinguishes between us and them is the prayer, and whoever neglects it has disbelieved (become a kaafir).” It was narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nisaa’i and Ibn Maajah. What is meant here by kufr or disbelief is the kind of kufr which puts a person beyond the pale of Islam, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) made prayer the dividing line between the believers and the disbelievers. It is known that the community of kufr is not the same as the community of Islam, so whoever does not fulfil this covenant must be one of the kaafireen (disbelievers).