Salat and Excuses
HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR SALAAH??
Prayer (Salaah) is one of the pillars of Islam, and it is the most
important pillar after the Shahaadatayn (twin testimony of faith). It
is also an individual obligation. Whoever does not do it because he
denies that it is obligatory or he does not do it because he is lazy
and heedless, is a kaafir.
Excuse#1:Allah is al-Ghafoor ar-Raheem. He will forgive me.
Reply: Yes, Allaah is al-Ghafoor ar-Raheem but, know that He is also
Shadeed ul-Iqaab (severe in punishment).
“And fear Allaah much and know that Allaah is Severe in punishment.
(Baqarah:196)
And the Prophet (pbuh) said: “The covenant that stands between us
and them is prayer; whoever gives up prayer is a kaafir.”
(Tirmidhi, al-Nasaa’i, Ibn Maajah).
Excuse#2:I know I have to pray, but I am too tired/lazy.
Reply: Praying Salaat at its proper appointed times is an obligation
on every single person. Whoever deliberately misses a prayer exposes
himself to the wrath of Allaah, and the wise believer does not do
something which he knows could result in punishment.
Allaah says of the people of Hell:
“ ‘What has caused you to enter Hell?’ They will say: ‘We
were not among those who prayed (Salaat)’”[al-Muddaththir:42-43]
Ibn Mas’ood said: “No one keeps away from the prayer except a
hypocrite who is known for his hypocrisy.” (Muslim)
Excuse#3: I am SO busy at work, I don’t have time to pray.
Reply: So you mean to tell me that you can‘t take out a few minutes
out of 24 hours to worship the One Who created you and thank Him for
ALL His blessings??
“Men whom neither trade nor business diverts from the remembrance
of Allaah nor from performing As-Salaat nor from giving Zakaat;they
fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (out of the horror
of the torment of the Day of Resurrection).That Allaah may reward
them according to the best of their deeds, and add even more for them
out of His Grace. And Allaah provides without measure to whom He
wills.” [al-Noor:37-38]
Excuse#4: I pray. I just delay it until it is convenient for me or I
pray it Qadaa.
Reply: You should understand that delaying prayer beyond the time
when it is due is a major sin, because Allaah says:
“Verily, As-Salaah (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at
fixed hours”[al-Nisa’:103]
And Allaah says:
“So woe unto those performers of Salaah (prayers) (hypocrites).
Those who delay their Salaah (prayer from their stated fixed times)
” [al-Maa’oon :4,5]
Excuse#5: I pray the 4 prayers. I only miss Fajr because I have to do
Ghusl.
Reply: Allaah has enjoined upon you and me the FIVE prayers, NOT
FOUR. How can a Muslim willingly expose himself to the wrath of
Allaah and His punishment, just because he finds it difficult to do
ghusl? In fact, it is NOT difficult to do ghusl, it is VERY easy,
apart from the tricks that the Shaytaan tries to play on people.
Allaah is talking to you and me when He says: “Enter completely in
Islam (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the Islamic
religion)”[al-Baqarah :208]
“Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their Salaat
with all solemnity and full submissiveness” [al-Mu’minoon 23:1-2]
“And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory) Salawaat (at
their fixed stated hours).” [al-Mu’minoon 23:9]
Excuse#6: My position/boss/studies/does not allow me.
Reply: The Prophet (pbuh) mentioned prayer one day and said:
“Whoever observes it regularly, it will be light and a proof and
salvation on the Day of Resurrection, and whoever does not observe it
regularly, it will not be a light or a proof or salvation for him,
and on the Day of Resurrection he will be with Qaroon, Pharaoh,
Hamaan and Ubayy ibn Khalaf.” (Ahmad).
Ibn al-Qayyim said: These four people are mentioned because they are
the leaders of kufr. This makes an important point about the one who
does not observe regular prayer, whether that is because he is
distracted by his wealth, his power, his position of leadership or
his business. The one who is distracted from it by his wealth will be
with Qaroon; the one who is distracted by his power will be with
Pharaoh; the one who is distracted by his position of leadership will
be with Hamaan and the one who is distracted by his business will be
with Ubayy ibn Khalaf.”
Excuse#7: If I pray, I will be fired from my job!
Reply: Isn’t it Allaah that provides RIZQ for you and me?? If this
job is keeping you away from the most important duty as a Muslim, you
should leave this job. And whoever gives up something for the sake of
Allaah, Allaah will compensate him with something better than that.
“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make
a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide
him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his
trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will
accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure for all
things”[Talaaq:2-3]
Excuse#8:I want to pray but my children are so young I can’t leave
them and pray
Reply: “O you who believe! Let not your properties or your children
divert you from the remembrance of Allaah. And whosoever does that,
then they are the LOSERS.”
Excuse#9: I can’t pray at my job/school/public place. I am too
embarrassed /they will think I am a TERRORIST!
Reply: How can a Muslim feel embarrassed about proclaiming the truth
and worshipping his Lord openly, hastening to fulfill the command of
Allaah at the time when Allaah has said it is to be done? Also, if
you uphold your duty to pray, Allaah will never let you down. He is
the one to protect you and save you from all harm, no matter what
anyone tries to plot against you. Remember that the one who is
protected by Allaah, NO ONE CAN HARM.
“Whoever works righteousness " whether male or female "
while
he (or she) is a true believer- verily, to him We will give a good
life, and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the
best of what they used to do.” [al-Nahl:97]
Excuse#10:If I pray, people will think that I show off. So I don’t
pray.
Reply: Just as the Shaytaan comes to the Muslim to make him admire
his actions and show off to people, sometimes he uses the opposite
trick and makes a person think that he is showing off, so that he
will not do it. So just ignore these whisperings from the Shaytaan
and don’t let him keep you away from this major Ibadah. Don’t let
him win.
Ibraaheem al-Nakha’i said: If the Shaytaan comes to you when you
are praying and says, “you are showing off,” then you should make
it even longer
“And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaytaan, then seek
refuge with Allaah. Verily, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower” [al-
A’raaf:200]
Excuse#11: I have made/am making so many mistakes, it is no use for
me to pray. Allaah will never forgive me.
Reply: This is another of the tricks of Shaytaan. He does not want
you to do Tawbah, because he knows, if you sincerely repent to Allaah
for ALL that you have done, Allaah WILL FORGIVE YOU.
“Say: ‘O My slaves, who have transgressed against themselves (by
committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allaah,
verily, Allaah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful’” [al-Zumar:53]
And remember, doing good deeds wipes out sins.
“And perform As-Salaah, at the two ends of the day and in some
hours of the night [i.e. the five compulsory prayers]. Verily, the
good deeds remove the evil deeds”[Hood:114]
Excuse#12: I don’t pray, but I have a good heart. I never hurt
anyone.
Reply: The Prophet (pbuh) said: "The first matter that the slave will
be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it
is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad,
then the rest of his deeds will be bad." (Tabarani).
No good deeds will be accepted from one who does not pray " no
zakaah, no fasting, no Hajj or anything else.
“Whoever does not pray ‘Asr, his good deeds will be
annulled.” (Bukhaari).
Excuse#13:But, I pray every Jumuah. Isn’t that enough?
Reply: With regard to the ruling on one who prays Jumu’ah only,
some of the scholars are of the view that one who prays Jumu’ah
only is a kaafir, because he comes under the same ruling as one who
does not pray at all, because he prays only one of the thirty-five
prayers required each week, so he is like one who does not pray at
all. (Shaykh ibn Baaz and Ibn ‘Uthaymeen). Some scholars said that
he is not a kaafir but he is committing a great sin that is worse
than riba (usury), adultery, stealing, drinking alcohol etc.
Excuse#14: My spouse/parents don’t pray. Why should I??
Reply: Just because your family does something sinful, does not
mean that you do the same. Remember, they will NOT be there to save
you when Allaah will ask YOU about YOUR Salaah. In fact, call them to
Allah by advising them and setting up a good example for them to
follow.
“And enjoin al-Salaah on your family, and be patient in offering
them [the prayers]. We ask not of you a provision; We provide for
you. And the good end (i.e., Paradise) is for the muttaqoon
(pious).” [Ta-Ha:132]
Excuse#15: I will pray when I am older/after Hajj.
Reply: Do you want to be these people that Allaah is talking about??
“Then, there has succeeded them a generation who have given up As-
Salaah and have followed lusts. So they will be thrown in Hell”
[Maryam:59]
And, how do YOU know you will live to “be older”? Or “until
Hajj”??
What if you die tomorrow?? Or, today???
CONCLUSION:“O you who believe! Fear Allaah, and be with those who
are true (in words and deeds)” [al-Tawbah 9:119]
“Guard strictly the (five obligatory) prayers, especially the
middle Salaat (‘Asr). And stand before Allaah with obedience.”
[al-Baqarah 2:238]