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Sifat-us-Salaah (The Prophets Prayer Described)

By Sheikh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen
Explained by Abu Muadh Taqweem ( audio lectures on www.learntaboutislam.co.uk)
Send feedback @ bintshareef@hotmail.com

Lesson 2
INTRODUCTION CONTD.
Warning from becoming wasteful with your prayer/having a slack behavior towards the prayer
In last lesson we saw that prayer has great virtues and benefits. So it becomes clear that one who
doesnt guard over his prayers is greatly deprived of all of those virtues and benefits.

END RESULT AND PUNISHMENT FOR THE ONE WHO DOESNT GUARD OVER HIS PRAYERS
Allaah says in Suratul Maoon;

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So woe unto those performers of Salat (prayers) (hypocrites), who delay their Salat (prayer) from
their stated fixed times, (Suratul Maooon, 107:4-5)

And in Suratun Nisaa, Allaah talks about hypocrites;

Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand
up for As-Salat (the prayer), they stand with laziness and to be seen of men, and they do not
remember Allah but little. (Suratun-Nisaa, 4:142)

Also, in Suratul Muddathhir, when the wrongdoers will be asked;

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"What has caused you to enter Hell?" They will say: "We were not of those who used to offer their
Salat (prayers) (Suratul Muddathhir, 74:42)
These types of aayaat highlight the severity of abandoning the prayer
And as it occurs in Surah al-Mursalaat;

And when it is said to them: "Bow down yourself (in prayer)!" They bow not down (offer not their
prayers). (Suratul Mursalaat, 77:48)

And there are narrations from the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wasallam that talk about the
encouragement to prayer teaching the children from young age;
The Messenger of Allah ( )said: Command your children to pray when they become seven years
old, and beat them for it (prayer) when they become ten years old; and arrange their beds (to sleep)
separately. (Sunan Abi Dawud 495, saheeh-al albani)
Sheikh Uthaymeen said - who from amongst you has guarded over this trust which Prophet
sallallaahu alayhi wasallam has placed upon you (trust to preserve and guard your children
commanding them to pray). Who from amongst you has given this importance to the prayer? The
majority of the people are negligent of this.
Other scholars have also mentioned similarly;
Sheikh Saalih bin al-Fawzan said nowadays kids run around in the streets playing all day and their
parents dont call them when there is time of the prayer.
This is the negligence of the people.
Sheikh Uthaymeen says: however even though the people are negligent of guarding over their
children with regards to prayer, when it comes to worldly benefits then they are very alert, with
regards to work, money, trade, they stay up nights to expand their wealth. Then they leave that
wealth after they die and it is inherited by those who come after them. And they are negligent of
their children who are the coolness of their eyes in this world and in the heareafter. If those
children are righteous then they are from the coolness of their eyes that they bring peace and
serenity to you. And it is just as the Prophet said
"When a man dies all his good deeds come to an end except three: Ongoing charity (Sadaqah
Jariyah), beneficial knowledge and a righteous son who prays for him." (Sunan an-Nasa'i 3651)
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Ongoing charity: for example you helped build a masjid

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Beneficial Knowledge: that you have left behind that which people continue to benefit from
after you have passed away
a righteous child: who makes duaa for you after your death.

Righteous child is upon the responsibility of the parents that if they raise them upon this prayer,
guarding and preserving it this type of child you expect to make duaa for you after your death. As
for those who are negligent to this, give no importance to look into the affairs of the religion such
children grow up with issues which are Islamically impermissible consuming intoxicants,
committing crime, etc.
Sheikh al-Uthaymeen says: Are you not afraid that you are negligent and dont care about this
responsibility which is upon you and are you not afraid that the end result which will come about
from you not giving the correct upbringing to your children will be that they will end up being
disobedient to you? And that will be a just reward. That you did not give them the rightful
upbringing, so as a consequence when they grow up and not show you piety then that is a just
reward for your incorrect upraising of them in the first place. So, upon you is to guard over your
children and teach them the importance of prayer, right from the young age.

RULING ON THE ONE WHO ABANDONS HIS PRAYER

Abandoning of prayer is of two types;
1. That they do not pray because they do not believe it to be an obligation/reject the
obligation of the prayer
this belief is kufr without doubt
because in reality this person is rejecting the Quran and the Sunnah which is an act
of kufr
only exception in this regard could be when a person is very new to Islaam and
hasnt understood the obligation of salah. So this person is not considered a kaafir
until he is taught about the affairs of the prayer.
2. Somebody who accepts the obligation of the prayer, however he doesnt not pray out of
laziness and he is slack
You call this person to pray and advise him about the need to pray and command
him to pray if he starts praying then Alhamdulillah. But if he still doesnt pray then
the scholars have differed about the ruling on this type of person;
First Opinion: That as a consequence of this, he becomes a kaafir and he is to die as a kaafir
meaning, you do not pray janazah over him and do not bury him in muslim graveyard
Evidence from Quraan

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But if they repent, perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give Zakat, then they are your brethren
in religion (Suratut Tawbah, 9:11)
This ayah has put down three conditions for the mushrikeen to become your brothers in the
religion;
1. Repent from their shirk
2. Perform as-salaat
3. Give Zakaat
So a person who fulfills one/two but not all conditions, would not be considered a Muslim as per
this ayah.
The scholars say that this is clear evidence that one who doesnt pray, then he cannot be considered
a muslim, even if he acknowledges the obligation to pray.
(AN IMPORTANT POINT TO NOTE: These types of implementations will be carried out by the
leaders of the Muslims and not just by anyone. Declaring people disbelievers and killing them
without authority - these are the ways of the khawaarij who are upon misguidance and this is their
extremism. )
An Example : Sheikh Uthaymeen gives an example to make this clear If somebody visits you and
gives you a book and you read it, then be honourable to that man. This statement mentions three
conditions
1. he must visit you to deserve that hospitability,
2. secondly, he must give you that book and
3. thirdly, he must allow you to read it
This is same as the above ayah they repent, and they pray and they give zakah, then theyre your
brothers in Islaam.
This negation of brotherhood only comes about with something which is clear kufr in this way. You
negate from that person this brotherhood in Islaam because of his abandonment of the prayer.
Sins do not have the same meaning
if a muslim commit sin, that doesnt negate muslim brotherhood,
stealing, fornication, murdering,etc. are great evil acts but they do not entail negation of the
brotherhood in Islaam
these acts do not exit a person from the fold of Islaam
But the prayer specifically has been mentioned in the ayah, that one who abandons it, it does negate
the brotherhood in Islaam and this person is out of Islaam.
Refutation of the khawaarij and takfeeris
General sins dont declare a person to be a kaafir

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O you who believe! Al-Qisas (the Law of Equality in punishment) is prescribed for you in case of
murder: the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But if the killer is
forgiven by the brother (or the relatives, etc.) of the killed against blood money, then adhering to it
with fairness and payment of the blood money, to the heir should be made in fairness. This is an
alleviation and a mercy from your Lord. So after this whoever transgresses the limits (i.e. kills the
killer after taking the blood money), he shall have a painful torment. (Al-Baqarah, 2:178)

Here brother means brother (kin) of the deceased. Family of the deceased is termed as the
brother of the murderer which indicates that this murderer is the brother to the brother
of the deceased which further indicates that he is still his brother in Islaam still in the
fold of Islaam
Declaring muslims as kaafir and going about killing them unjustly - these are the
ideologies of the khawaarij who have been around from the times of the sahaaba, and
have been poisoning the people with this methodology. This is complete misguidance.
And that is why some scholars declare the khawaarij to be disbelievers. They kill their
own people and anyone who comes in their way. These are the most misguided
individuals, as the scholars say - more misguided than their domestic donkey.

Some narrations to highlight that one who abandons salah is out of the fold of Islaam
The Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wasallam said:
Between man and polytheism and unbelief is the abandonment of salat. (Muslim 154, at-Tirmidhi
2620)

So abandoning the prayer, barrier falls and the person falls into kufr and shirk.

Another narration is the hadeeth of Abdullah bin Buraidah bin Husain, Prophet said;
"The covenant between us and them is the Salat, so whoever abandons it he has committed
disbelief."(At-Tirmidhi 2621)

This is a clear hadeeth.

Another narration that Sheikh Uthaymeen mentions is:

Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu alayhi wasallam said, The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is
the prayer and its peak is jihad. (40 Hadith Nawawi 29)

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Pillar of Islaam is prayer and without a pillar Islaam cannot be established if the pillar
goes, Islaam goes.

A narration from Umar ibn al-Khattaab

there is no portion in Islaam for a person who abandons the prayer. (mentioned by Dat-at-Kutni)
Narration of Abdullah ibn Shaqeeq (tabeeen)
The Companions of Muhammad sallallaahu alayhi wasallam did not think that failing to do any
action constituted disbelief except in the case of prayer. (Narrated by at-Tirmidhi (2622); classed as
saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Tirmidhi)

These are the narrations that the scholars use and it is a stronger opinion as can be seen
from the above narrations.
There are many more narrations to highlight that a person who does not pray, how can he
consider himself a muslim.
Prayer is the second highest pillar of Islaam, five times a day.
Scholars say if you look at the importance of the prayer, hajj is obligated upon you only once
in a lifetime, fasting and zakaah (if you have the right amount) once in the year. While
prayer is five times, not in the lifetime, nor in a year, month, or week but five times a day. So
compare that to the other acts of worship. Even though we know the great virtues of the
hajj, but this is to highlight how important the prayer is.
So the scholars say, a person who knows the obligation but still abandons out of laziness,
then this person is a kaafir.
Some scholars even say that there is consensus upon this opinion.

Some of the other scholars do not hold this opinion that the person is a kaafir if he abandons out of
laziness, but we do understand from these narrations the severity of the issue of abandoning the
prayer. How can a person feel safe with that ayah having three conditions for establishing muslim
brotherhood? So this is very dangerous for a person.
Second Opinion that a person who leaves the prayer and is reminded but he still keeps
abandoning it due of laziness, it is upon the Islamic Ruler to implement capital punishment on him.
This sounds similar to the first opinion, but according to this opinion, the person dies as a
Muslim and not as a kaafir (as in the first opinion)
He is prayed upon, washed, buried with the muslims,etc.
But the ruling under both opinions is the capital punishment for one who doesnt pray. So this
indicates the severity of the punishment and the end result of the one who doesnt pray.

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"The Messenger of Allah sallallaahu alayhi wasallam said: 'The first thing concerning which a
person will be brought to account will be the Salah, (Sunan an-Nasa'i 3991)
Sheikh further says:
Look at the two group of scholars, even though they differed on the type of death he dies,
whether muslim or not, they all agreed that this person who abandons the prayer, then
under the muslim ruler, his punishment is death.
I am amazed and shocked at these people who are slack with their prayers, they are
preoccupied with their desires, they consider it to be a burden (something which barely
takes an hour in a day). They spend so many hours in things which do not benefit them. Do
these people think that they will not be resurrected on that great day? On that day when the
people will be raised up to their Lord.
What kind of a religion is the person upon, even though the prayer takes up so little amount
of your time during the day.
On top of the fact that you know the great rewards this prayer gives you, knowing the great
number of benefits, upon your heart, upon your body, upon the individual and the society,
upon your statements, your actions, and knowing that the prayer helps you and aids you in
your affairs, brings peace to you.
The Prophet, if he was ever concerned about something, he would stand up and pray and
that would elevate his worry.
Just as Allaah says in the Quran - And seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer) (AlBaqarah, 2:45)
With all of the great threats mentioned in the Quraan what religion does he have with him
that he still abandons the prayer? This person is not a Muslim in the first place.
Then the Shaykh says some people give excuse that I am a Muslim, I say the shahaadah.
Then to them we say this is not enough for you with Allaah, until you submit yourself to
Allaah.
So if you are proclaiming to la ilaaha illallah, then you must submit to the shariah, its
rulings and prohibitions upon you.
Because eemaan is what has become established in the heart and your actions testify to it.
You say the kalima, but where are the actions that testify the truthfulness of your claim?
Hence we saw from the scholars that leaving the obligation of prayer leads to apostasy and
you are not considered Muslim anymore.
The last thing you will lose from your religion is the prayer ((Al-Madarij 1/521)
meaning, once you lost the prayer, youre out of the religion.
Advice: Encourage your friends and family to pray informing them of the severity of this
issue.
Fiqh of the prayer to come in the following lessons.

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WORKSHEET 1
Q12. Mention 2 ayahs of the Qur'an that warn against slacking or losing the prayer
A12. Any two from the following:
So woe unto those performers of Salat (prayers) (hypocrites), Who delay their Salat (prayer) from
their stated fixed times, (Suratul Maooon, 107:4-5)
Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand
up for As-Salat (the prayer), they stand with laziness and to be seen of men, and they do not
remember Allah but little. (Suratun-Nisaa, 4:142)
"What has caused you to enter Hell?" They will say: "We were not of those who used to offer their
Salat (prayers) (Suratul Muddathhir, 74:42)
And when it is said to them: "Bow down yourself (in prayer)!" They bow not down (offer not their
prayers). (Suratul Mursalaat, 77:48)

WORKSHEET 2
Q1. Abandoning the Prayer occurs in 2 ways; what are they?
A1. The two ways:
1. That they do not pray because they do not believe it to be an obligation/reject the obligation
of the prayer. And this is kufr without doubt.
2. Somebody who accepts the obligation of the prayer, however he doesnt not pray out of
laziness and he is slack

Q2. Some scholars hold the opinion that a person who abandons the prayer out of laziness is a
disbeliever; what are their proofs?
A2. Proofs from Quraan and sunnah
But if they repent, perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give Zakat, then they are your brethren
in religion (Suratut Tawbah, 9:11)
Between man and polytheism and unbelief is the abandonment of salat. (Muslim 154, at-Tirmidhi
2620)

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"The covenant between us and them is the Salat, so whoever abandons it he has committed
disbelief."(At-Tirmidhi 2621)
Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu alayhi wasallam said, The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is
the prayer and its peak is jihad. (40 Hadith Nawawi 29)
Umar ibn al-Khattaab said there is no portion in Islaam for a person who abandons the prayer.
(mentioned by Dat-at-Kutni)
The Companions of Muhammad sallallaahu alayhi wasallam did not think that failing to do any
action constituted disbelief except in the case of prayer. (Narrated by at-Tirmidhi (2622); classed
as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh at-Tirmidhi)

Q3. Explain how they use Surah Tawba: Ayah 11 as a proof?

A3. This ayah has put down three conditions for the mushrikeen to become your brothers in the
religion;
1. Repent from their shirk
2. Perform as-salaat
3. Give Zakaat
So a person who fulfills one/two but not all conditions, would not be considered a Muslim as per
this ayah.
The scholars say that this is clear evidence that one who doesnt pray, then he cannot be considered
a Muslim, even if he acknowledges the obligation to pray.
This negation of brotherhood only comes about with something which is clear kufr in this way. You
negate from that person this brotherhood in Islaam because of his abandonment of the prayer.
The prayer has been specifically mentioned in the ayah, that one who abandons it, it does negate
the brotherhood in Islaam and this person is out of Islaam.

Q4. What is the statement of Umar bin Khattab regarding this?

A4. Umar ibn al-Khattaab said there is no portion in Islaam for a person who abandons the prayer.
(mentioned by Dat-at-Kutni)