The Holy Qur'an says, "Then woe to those prayer performers. Who are heedless of their prayers (Part 30, Surah Ma-oon, verse 4-5)
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! Hypocrites (munafiq) were very lazy about their prayers. That is because they had apparently accepted Islam but did not believe in Allah Ta'ala or the day of judgement in their hearts. There was no importance given to prayer by them, if they prayed, they prayed. If they missed it, it was no big deal to them. If they prayed they were not expecting any reward for it. If they missed it there was no fear of any reprisal or punishment. If they were amongst people they would pray. If they were on their own they would not bother, or would not pray it at the correct times. They would sit around swapping stories, and when the time would almost be up, they would stand, move up and down quickly a few times and claim that they had prayed. They would not pray with the sincerity or humility that it should be prayed with. They would never truly busy themselves in worship or the remembrance of Allah Ta'ala.
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! These are all forms of carelessness, and a true believer should save himself from all of them.
The author of Rooh Ul Bayaan says that this verse refers to the hypocrites that do not pray and the Muslims that are transgressors (fasiq).
In the verse Allah Ta'ala says that there is a place called "Vail" for people that are careless about their prayers. In the blessed Hadith it states that "Vail" is a valley in hell. If all the mountains of the world were put in there, they would all melt because of its intensity and heat. This valley is for those that are lazy about their prayers and do not pray at the correct times.
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! Let us make sincere repentance that we will not be lazy with our prayers in the future and will pray with the congregations, Insha Allah. May Allah Ta'ala guide us all to pray at the correct times. Aameen
Deeds that Take You to Hell
Allah Ta'ala says, "What thing took you into hellfire? They replied, We did not perform our prayers." (Kanzul Iman)
The author of "Zia Ul Qur'an", Allama Peer Karam Shah Azhari alaihir rahmah explains that the people of paradise will ask the people of hell, "What thing led you to be subjected to the severe punishment of hell?" They will reply, "We had two faults which has led us to this punishment. (One of the reasons is) We never used to prostrate before our Creator. We were full of arrogance and never for a moment thought that we need to bow down before the Lord that has given us so many blessings."
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! Have you seen the fate of one that misses prayers? If we cannot find the time to bow before our Merciful Creator who provides us sustenance, then this will be our fate as well. If you want to save yourself from the punishment of hell then ensure that you do not miss prayers. May Allah Ta'ala guide us all guide us all to perform our prayers.
Place for Those that Miss Prayers
Allah Ta'ala states, "Then after them came those degenerates who wasted prayer and followed their lusts, then soon they will encounter a valley of the hell." (Surah Maryam, verse 59)
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! The Prophet's alaihimus salaam, were always aware of the Magnificence of Allah Ta'ala and His anger and their eyes were always moist with tears. However, many people came after the Prophet's alaihimus salaam that threw away the practices of the pious predecessors. Never mind desirable or preferable acts; they threw away a great compulsory worship like prayer (Namaz). Either they did not agree that it was a compulsory worship, or they did not want to go through the trouble of fulfilling it. Never mind fulfilling it, they did not even respect the orders and commands of Allah Ta'ala but were too busy in fulfilling their desires. They must remember that they will have to pay for their crime.
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! Allah Ta'ala has mentioned three things in this verse.
1) They missed their prayers; By missing their prayers and by their carelessness they became transgressors (fasiq). Or they prayed it incorrectly or at the wrong time and became misguided. Or they prayed it correctly, but because of backbiting, gossiping, jealousy, and envy, their good deeds were wiped away. These are all different forms of missing the prayer.
Hazrat Abdullah Bin Mas'ood radiallaho ta'ala anhu says that missing prayers does not only mean to completely miss the prayer, it means that they delayed praying it, that is, prayed it late.
2) The second thing that is mentioned is that they began following their desires. The biggest and worst desire is infidelity and polytheism. (Kufr and Shirk)
3) The third thing that is mentioned is that they will be thrown into "Ghay." This is a lowly valley in hell and because of its punishment the other parts of hell ask for safety from it. It has also been described as a very deep well or a deep stream containing puss, urine and excrement, in which the people of hell will be punished. Remember this punishment is for the person that dies without asking for forgiveness.
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! How awful a valley "Ghay" is? Can any of us withstand its punishment? Definitely not. It is imperative that we do not give in to our desires and stay away from the crime of missing prayers. May Allah Ta'ala guide all Muslims to guard their prayers. Aameen
WARNINGS ABOUT MISSING PRAYERS FROM HADITH
The First Accounting will be for Prayer
Hazrat Anas radiallaho ta'ala anhu narrates that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "The first thing that a person will be questioned about is his prayers." (Tibrani)
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! Allah Ta'ala gives us sustenance. He has given us life and has ordered us to pray five times a day. How ungrateful is a person that eats the sustenance that He has given us, takes advantage of the life that He has given us, but does not bow down his head to Him? That is why we are reminded that the first thing that we will be asked about on the day of judgement is our prayers. Therefore we should be punctual in our prayers so that we are not shamed on the day of judgement and we can be blessed with respect in the court of Allah Ta'ala. May Allah Ta'ala make all our accounting easy through the waseela of His Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam. Aameen.
Hazrat Umar radiallaho ta'ala anho narrates that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "Prayer is a pillar of faith. Whoever abandons it has destroyed his faith." (Baihiqi)
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! If a child drops something expensive at home, we get angry and shout at them. If a child or someone else breaks an expensive possession we lose control. Please tell me, is there anything more valuable than our faith? Today, all members of our household are destroying their faith five times a day, but we don't get upset at this because we are guilty of the same crime.
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam has proclaimed that prayer is the pillar of our faith and one who does not pray is called a destroyer of faith. No Muslim would ever desire that he should be classified as the destroyer of faith. Therefore try to be a builder of the faith by being punctual in prayers. May Allah Ta'ala guide us all to establish prayer. Aameen.
Accounting with Fir'aun and Haamaan
Hazrat Abdullah Ibn E Umar radiallaho ta'ala anhuma narrates that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "The person that performs his five daily prayers punctually and with complete purity will be surrounded by light on the day of judgement. The person that abandons and does not pray, his accounting will be with Fir'aun and Haamaan." (Ahmed)
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! This Hadith tells us that we will be surrounded with light, from the grave to the bridge (Pul Siraat). This bridge is thinner than a hair and sharper than a sword and we all have to cross over it. At that point our prayers will act like light showing us the way. The prayers will testify in Allah Ta'ala's court about the sincerity, truthfulness and faith of one that prays punctually. And Allah Ta'ala forbid, if a Muslim does not pray, his accounting will be with those that are trapped in the punishment of Allah Ta'ala. Their crime was that they did not bow down before Allah Ta'ala because of pride and arrogance and claimed to be God themselves. (Ma'azAllah). Now tell me, would any Muslin wish that his accounting is done alongside such enemies of Allah Ta'ala as Fir'aun and Haamaan? If not, then seeks Allah Ta'ala's forgiveness today and promise that you will not miss any more prayers. May Allah Ta'ala guide us all to protect our prayers. Aameen.
Not the Responsibility of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam
Hazrat Umm E Aiman radiallaho ta'ala anha narrates that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "I am not responsible for the person that misses prayers intentionally."
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! Allah Ta'ala sent Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam as the mercy to all the worlds. He came as the helper to all, from animals and birds to plants and stones; all are living with the assistance of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam. The Beloved of Allah Ta'ala came to fulfil the requirements of all, from the grave to the day of judgement we all need the lap and the benevolence of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam. Therefore it's essential that we save ourselves from any act that causes this relationship to break. Who is there, other than the Mercy to the world's sallalaho alaihe wasallam who can save us from the troubles of the hereafter? Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam says, "Whoever misses prayers intentionally is not the responsibility of Muhammad" sallalaho alaihe wasallam. Allah O Akbar! If Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam takes away his hand of benevolence, who is there that will be kind to us? Even Allah Ta'ala will not look at such a person with kindness whom Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam has shunned.
Do not miss prayers so that we can find shelter and comfort in the lap of the Mercy of the world's sallalaho alaihe wasallam and obtain success in both worlds. May Allah Ta'ala keep the blessed shade of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam above each of us forever. Aameen.
Deeds will be accursed
Hazrat Abu Hurairah radiallaho ta'ala anhu narrates that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "The first thing that will be looked at on the day of judgement will be a person's prayers (namaz). If they are complete his prayers and all deeds will be accepted. If his prayers are incomplete, then his prayers and all deeds will be thrown out."
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! We can see the importance of prayer from the Hadith above. Our state today is that we show a lot of eagerness for voluntary deeds (Nafil), but are very lazy when it comes to Namaz or other compulsory acts. Sometimes we pray late, sometimes we pray as though we are not interested, looking around during prayer. Sometimes praying so quickly that may Allah forgive...
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! Remember that the first thing asked about will be prayers on the day of judgement. Only if that is complete will Allah Ta'ala accept our other deeds. We should perform our prayers properly so that on the day of judgement Allah Ta'ala accepts our all our other deeds with it. May Allah Ta'ala guide us to perform our prayers correctly. Aameen.
Missing Prayers Close to Infidelity (Kufr)
Hazrat Buraidah radiallaho ta'ala anhu narrates that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "The difference between us and them (the hypocrites) is prayer. He who intentionally misses prayers is a non believer." (Tirmizi)
A similar Hadith is narrated by Hazrat Abu Darda radiallaho ta'ala anhu that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "Whoever misses prayers intentionally has committed infidelity."
The words in the Hadith are "Faqad Kafar" which have been explained as meaning "going close to infidelity." He has forsaken prayer even though prayer is a pillar of faith and a foundation of belief. "Faqad Kafar" means that he has committed an act of infidelity because infidels also do not pray. It is reported in a Hadith that, "The difference between a believer and a non-believer is prayer. When someone misses prayers he committed actions like the non believers." (Al Hadith)
It is reported by Tirmizi and others that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "The difference between us and them is prayer. The one that misses prayers has done the same work as infidels." (Al Hadith)
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! If we have wealth, we take no chances in guarding it. We worry about where to keep it, how to keep it safe, how to increase it. We are forever worried about it. But we do not worry about our faith at all. Remember! No wealth is greater than the wealth of faith. There are numerous verses in the Qur'an and many Ahadith about safeguarding our faith. The Hadith above tells us that the person that intentionally misses prayer is close to infidelity, in other words, his faith is at risk. He has taken himself close to infidelity because of missing prayers; there is a danger that he will lose his faith too. Therefore, it is better if we safeguard our prayers and pray them punctually so that we can protect our faith. May Allah Ta'ala give us all death with faith. Aameen.
Result of Missing Prayers
One day Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam was talking about prayers and said, "Whoever performs these prayers punctually, they will be light for him on the day of judgement and will lead to his forgiveness. The person that does not pray will not have any light and will not be forgiven. He will be with Qaroon, Fir'aun, Haamaan and Ubai Bin Khalaf on the day of judgement." (Masnad Tibraani)
Some scholars have explained why they will be raised with those people. If a person misses prayer because of wealth and possessions, he is similar to Qaroon, and will be raised with him. If it's missed because of business of the country or administration, that is the same as Fir'aun, and will be raised with him. If prayer is missed because of government business, that is similar to Haamaan and such a person will be raised with him. If a person misses prayer because of business, that is similar to Ubai Bin Khalaf and such a person will be raised with him.
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! We are so busy in business, so proud of our accomplishments, and so busy in pleasing those in power that we forget about prayer. Beware! Do not become so engrossed in business that you don't have time to prostrate to Allah Ta'ala. Otherwise is has been said that you will be with those people on the day of judgement who are disliked by Allah Ta'ala, and towards whom Allah Ta'ala will look at with anger. They are so disgraced that their names and their deeds will be cursed until the day of judgement and the bondmen of Allah Ta'ala and the slaves of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam seek refuge from them and their actions. These are the people that were mentioned by Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam in the above Hadith and as soon as one hears their names there is a sense of hatred that comes over us. No lover of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam would want to be associated with such people; therefore we should all become punctual in our prayers, so that our judgement will be with pious people on the day of judgement. May He save us from being associated with the enemies of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam. Aameen.
Unfortunate and Deprived
Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "The person that is lazy or does not join in the congregational prayer will be punished with 12 calamities by Allah Ta'ala. Three in this world, three at the time of death, three calamities in the grave and three on the day of judgement. The first calamity of this world is that his earnings will have no blessings. Secondly, The light (Noor) of the pious will leave him and thirdly, hatred for him will be put in the hearts of all believers.
The three misfortunes at the time of death are; He will die thirsty. If he is given all the water in the sea he will still be thirsty. The second calamity at the time of death is that he end will be very painful and severe. There is risk to his faith at the time of death. In the grave the first calamity is that the questions of the angels will be very strict on him. The darkness of the grave will be very intense. The third misfortune of the grave is that his grave will become so narrow that his ribs will be crushed. The three misfortunes on the day of judgement are; Firstly, his accounting will be very severe. He will be subjected to the Wrath of Allah Ta'ala and thirdly, he will be punished with fire by Allah Ta'ala."
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! Muslims are caught in many of the calamities that were mentioned above for those that miss prayers. The reason is that the congregational prayers are missed. If these are the punishments for those that do not pray with congregation, what will be the punishment for one that does not pray at all? The Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam has blessed us so much that he has given us the reasons for all our difficulties and has given us the solutions to all problems. Now it is our responsibility that we correct ourselves and be punctual in prayers and in congregational prayers, Insha Allah! Allah Ta'ala will remove all our difficulties.
In another Hadith it is reported that, Hazrat Jibraael and Hazrat Mikaael alaihis salaam state that Allah Ta'ala says that the person that misses prayers is accursed in the Taurah, Zaboor, Injeel and the Qur'an.
Allah O Akbar! Accursed here means that he is far from the Mercy of Allah Ta'ala. Who would go close to the person that is far away from the Mercy of Allah Ta'ala? And who will give him refuge? Therefore, be punctual in prayers and do not miss them in the future. May Allah Ta'ala make it easy for us to achieve this. Aameen.
MISSING PRAYERS IN THE LIGHT OF INCIDENTS
Valley of Hell for Those that Miss Prayers
It is reported in Hadith that Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam said, "The faces of those that do not pray will be blackened first of all on the day of judgement, then he will be put in a valley of Hell called Alam. There are snakes in this valley that are as large as camels and their length is the equivalent of one month's travel time. They will bite the people and their poison will stay in the person's body for seventy years, then their meat will rot". (Makashifat Ul Quloob)
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! We are not able to withstand a little mosquito bite and are troubled by its pain. Therefore, think that for missing prayers the punishment is snakebites. Who will be able to withstand that? Our state is that we believe in Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam but do not have total faith in what he has said. Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam has done great favours to us by telling us every aspect of the day of judgement and the punishments in the life hereafter.
Now that he has told us that the punishment for missing prayers is being stung by a snake, and has told us the size and appearance of the snake, it is our duty to perform prayers and save ourselves from such a punishment. May Allah Ta'ala make us all punctual performers of prayer. Aameen.
Flames in the Grave
Certain scholars have narrated that a person's bag accidentally fell into his sister's grave as he was burying his sister. When everyone had left he remembered his bag. He returned to the grave and started digging it to rescue his bag. He saw that there were flames burning in the grave. He covered the grave again and returned to his mother very upset and with tears in his eyes. He asked, "Mother! Tell me what my sister's habits were?" The Mother said, "Why are you asking?" He replied, "I have seen flames in her grave." His Mother started crying and said, "Your sister was very lazy with her prayers and used to pray the prayers late." (Makshifat Ul Quloob)
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! Laziness in praying will result in flames in the grave as punishment. No relative will come into the grave to help us, therefore it is up to us to ensure that we pray on time and do not be lethargic about it. We should pray on time and pray with sincerity and presence of mind and body. May Allah Ta'ala save us all from the punishment of the grave and make our grave a garden from the gardens of paradise. Aameen.
At the Door of Hell
Hazrat Abul Lais Sarqandi rehmatullahe ta'ala alaihe has narrated the following saying of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam. "The person that misses even one compulsory prayer, his name is written on the door of hell, and he will certainly have to go there." (Qurrat Ul Ain)
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! Even thinking about it makes the hair on the back of the neck stand up, that a slave of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam will be in the fire of hell. Allah o Akbar! Missing prayer is such a great sin and leads to such displeasure of Allah Ta'ala that one is subjected to all kinds of different punishments, and one of these punishments is the punishment of the grave. We know that we cannot cope with the smallest punishment, so why then do we continue doing things that will result in greater and more severe punishment? Let us promise that Allah Ta'ala willing, we will not commit the sin of missing prayers from now on, and that we will be punctual in our prayers and give coolness to the blessed eyes of Rasool Allah sallalaho alaihe wasallam. May Allah Ta'ala guide us all. Aameen
Order to Cut off all the Hair
The father of Hazrat Umar Bin Abdul Aziz, Abdul Aziz, was the governor of Egypt. He gave his son under the guardianship of Hazrat Saalih Bin Kisaan radiallaho ta'ala anhu to obtain superior education in Madinah. One time Hazrat Umar Bin Abdul Aziz was late for prayers and was asked by his teacher the reason for being late. He replied that he was combing and arranging his hair and that caused him to be late. The teacher said, "You gave more importance to your hair than the time for prayer?" The teacher wrote about this incident to his father, who immediately sent a person from Egypt to Madinah. As soon as this person arrived in Madinah the first thing he did was cut off all the hair of Hazrat Umar Bin Abdul Aziz radiallaho ta'ala anhu because that was the order of his father.
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! It's amazing how much passion the friend's of Allah Ta'ala had, that they could not withstand even delaying prayer a little bit. The thing that was the cause of the delay was removed immediately. We can see their enthusiasm for prayer and their enthusiasm in relation to their children's upbringing. Do we have this kind of enthusiasm? Our situation is that whether it's resting or swapping tales, or getting ready, the time for prayer passes and we don't care. We should take a lesson from this incident that we should attempt to follow in the footsteps of our pious predecessors. We should also worry about the prayers of our children and we should guide them and watch over them. May Allah Ta'ala protect us all from laziness in respect of prayer. Aameen
Shaitaan Runs Far Away
One person was walking through the jungle and shaitaan joined him. Therefore the person did not pray any of the five prayers. When he was getting ready to sleep, shaitaan said to him, "I want to leave you and go far away." He asked about the reason for this. Shaitaan replied, "The reason is that I refused to do one prostration (Sajdah) and that was in front of Hazrat Adam alaihis salaam. You have failed to do many prostration's in front of Allah Ta'ala today. I am afraid because my one refusal caused me to be punished with curses and that your refusal to do so many prostrations will result in a great punishment from Allah Ta'ala in which I will perish as well. (Makashifat Ul Quloob)
My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! A rejected one like shaitaan, who wears the curse of Allah Ta'ala, does not wish to be near a person that misses prayers.
Just think how bad a person is that does not perform prayers, that an accursed one like shaitaan runs away from him. Therefore, My Beloved Prophet sallalaho alaihe wasallam's beloved devotees! Create a yearning to prostrate and do not be miserly in respect of prayers, otherwise Allah Ta'ala will entrap us in the difficulties of both worlds, and no one will be able to save us. May Allah Ta'ala look at all with Benevolence and sincerely enable us to respect the rights of prayer. Aameen.
Worse Than An Adulterer
A lady of Bani Israel came to Hazrat Musa alaihis salaam and said, "O Prophet of Allah! I have committed a grave sin, and I have asked for forgiveness as well. Please ask Allah Ta'ala to forgive me." Hazrat Musa alaihis salaam asked, "What crime have you committed?" She said, "I committed adultery and a child was born from it. I killed the child." Upon hearing this Hazrat Musa alaihis salaam said, "O wretched one, get out. Your evil may cause it to rain fire and burn all of us." She became very disheartened and left. Then Hazrat Jibraeel alaihis salaam came and said, "O Musa alaihis salaam, Allah Ta'ala states that why did you turn away one that has repented? Have you not seen anyone commit a worse sin than this?" Hazrat Musa alaihis salaam asked, "Who can be worse than this woman?" Hazrat Jibraeel alaihis salaam replied, "The one that intentionally misses prayers is worse than this woman." (Mukashifat Ul Quloob)
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