This is What Differentiates a Believer from a Polytheist.

About Al-Mujrimun (polytheists, criminals, disbelievers), And they will say to them: “What has caused you to enter Hell?” They will say: “We were not of those who used to offer the Salat (prayers), nor we used to feed Al-Miskin (the poor). And we used to talk falsehood (all that which Allah hated) with vain talkers. And we used to belie the Day of Recompense until there came to us (the death) that is certain.” — Qur’an 74[Al-Mudathir]:41–47

Photo by Adli Wahid on Unsplash

One of the greatest jihad of our time is keeping up with salat at the appropriate time, especially in the place of worship. It might be easier in our local masaajid back home, where we hear the adhaan echo in a conflicting rhythm. It’s tougher for the Muslim community in the western world where you have to drive miles in order to make it to the masjid. If you’re lucky to have your house a few steps away from the mosque, alhamdulillah. Otherwise, it will take Allah’s guidance with conscious efforts to keep up with the congregational prayers consistently.

Matters related to salat are of utmost importance and shouldn’t be treated with levity. Since the primary purpose of our existence is to worship the Almighty One True God, then we have to be steadfast with our prayers. Besides, salat is the basic discrepancy between a believer and a polytheist. In a famous narration, Allah’s Apostle (Peace Be Upon Him) was reported thus:

Jabir bin Abdullah relates: I heard the Messenger of Allah (SallAllah-u-Alaihi-wa-Sallam) saying this: The difference between a man (Muslim) and kufr is the abandoning of salaah. — (Sahih Muslim)

The Importance of Prayer

Narrated by Hurayth ibn Qubaysah, who said: “I came to Madeenah and prayed, ‘O Allah, send me a righteous companion.’ I went and sat with Abu Hurayrah and said: ‘I asked Allaah to bless me with a righteous companion; tell me a hadith that you heard from the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), so that I may benefit therefrom.’ He said: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) say that the first thing for which a person will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection will be his prayer. If it is sound, he will be successful, and if it is lacking in any way, he will be doomed. If his obligatory prayers are lacking, the Lord will say: “Look and see whether My slave has any voluntary prayers which may be used to make up what is lacking in his obligatory prayers.” Then all his deeds will be examined and dealt with in the same way.’” — (Sunan at-Tirmidhi)

From the narration above, we derive the following:

1. The most important act after your testification to faith is salat — the prayer.
2. The first thing you will be asked about on the Day of Judgement is salat — the Prayer.
3. If your salat (five daily obligatory prayers) is sound, then everything else will be sound likewise.
4. If your salat (the five daily obligatory prayers) are lacking, then everything else will be likewise.
5. The voluntary prayers are equally important as they will fill the void if your obligatory prayers are lacking.
6. There is no success for the one who does not establish the prayer.

Causes Of Neglecting Prayers

• Laziness: This is one of the main reasons why people abandon prayers. They sometimes think it’s hard to be committed to a daily routine. In comparison with other religious practices, Islam’s obligation is one which requires discipline and consistency.
• Procrastination: It’s very easy for shaytan to whisper: “don’t worry, I’d pray later”. Until later becomes tomorrow and you find it hard to make up your missed prayers.
• Bad company: If you walk with folks that do not observe salat, it will be tougher for you to be reminded when it’s time for solat. The company is like a blacksmith — they either smoke you or you get burnt.
• The absence of at-taqwa: A heart devoid of the fear of Allah finds it easy to abandon prayers. With at-Taqwa, you’re constantly remembering that you’d someday return to Allah for reckoning.

Adverse effects of this negligence

• Leads to disbelieve: This has been mentioned previously. Allah’s messenger said the difference between a believer and a non-believer is in the negligence of salat. So the one who abandons his prayer is on a brink of disbelief. May Allah save us from such.
• Denial of reckoning: As mentioned in the introductory verse quoted from Suratul Mudathir, the disbelievers will be asked: what has led you to the fire? One of their response will include: “we used to neglect the prayers and deny this reckoning”.
• Overwhelmed with sinfulness: The one who prays truthfully often avoids the prohibitions of Allah. In the Qur’an, Allah mentioned this to us: “Verily, the prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. — Qur’an 29[Al-Ankabut]:45
• Ingratitude: Negligence of salat is a sign of ingratitude to your Creator. Allah provides for you, fashioned you and protects you. Yet you show ingratitude by failing to bow and prostrate in worship to him.
• Bad reputation: The one who abandons salat is definitely not one of the true believers. It makes it difficult for Muslims to identify, celebrate or sympathize in sober moments with such a person.

Benefits of establishing Salat

• It’s a sign of eeman: Salat is the most physical activity in Islam. It is a way of showing gratitude to the Lord of the Worlds. Negligence is to be deprived of Allah’s blessings. It is equally the second pillar of faith after the declaration with the tongue. So the one who prays definitely has faith in his heart.
• Keeps one away from sins: The five daily prayers are like lights that replenish the darkness of sins. The similitude is like bathing in a river five times a day.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace, and blessings be upon him, said: If there was a river at the door of anyone of you and he took a bath in it five times a day, would you notice any dirt on him? They said, “Not a trace of dirt would be left.” The Prophet said: That is the example of the five prayers with which Allah erases evil deeds. — Bukhari

• A cure to the diseases of the heart: It’s been previously mentioned that salat helps to keep one away from evil deeds. It also gives you joy, peace, and tranquility. Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace, and blessings be upon him, said, “ Endeared to me in the world are women and perfume, yet the delight of my eyes is in prayer.” — An-Nasa’i
• A proof of good deeds in this life and the afterlife: The Prophet also said: “The prayer of a man in congregation is twenty-five times more superior (in reward) to his prayer in his house or market — and this is because he performs ablution and perfects it and goes to the mosque with the sole purpose of performing the prayer. He does not take a step without being raised a degree and having one of his sins erased. When he prays, as long as he does not lose his ablution, the angels keep on supplicating [for him] ‘O Allah, bless him. O Allah, have mercy upon him.’ And he is considered in prayer as long as he is waiting for the prayer.” — Bukhari and Muslim
• A means of salvation: The one who prays will be saved from the doom of the day of reckoning by Allah’s leave. However, the one who neglects salat is definitely one of the losers. Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Prophet, peace, and blessings be upon him, mention prayer one day and he said, “Whoever guards his prayers will have light and clarity and salvation on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever does not guard his prayers will not have light nor clarity nor salvation, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be with Qarun and Pharaoh and Haman and Ubay ibn Khalaf.” — (Ahmad)
• A means of supplication and connecting with Allah: The prayer is a means of communication with your Lord. So you have to prepare your mind and self for worship. At the point of prostration, Allah is closer to His slave than the jugular vein is to the neck.
• A physical activity that strengthens the body and soul: We often think solat is just fulfilling a spiritual obligation, it goes beyond that. The continuous standing, bowing and rising enhances the physicality of the body and joints. This in itself is an exercise we do unconsciously.

How to get back on track

• Fear Allah as much as you can: Indeed the fear of Allah is the highest wisdom one can attain. There’s nothing to propel you to prayer better than piety. Remembering it’s Allah’s injunction, fulfilling it earns you reward and negligence incurs punishment.
• Repent and revive your strength for solat: As soon as you realize you’ve erred, repent to your Lord and amend your ways. Allah says:

O you who believe! Seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer). Truly! Allah is with As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.). — Qur’an 2[Al-Baqarah]:153

• Keep good company: There’s nothing better than a good company as the prophet described for us through a parable. The good company is like being with a perfume seller. He either gives you perfume to smell nice or you benefit from the good fragrance by being with him. The same way good Muslims will remind you to come and pray when its time for salat.
• Deploy a means that will help you achieve this goal: First is to build your daily schedule around the five prayers. Do not let any activity clash with you salat. With a smartphone, you can find an ‘Adhaan app’ of choice which can give you a timely reminder when each prayer is due.

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