Prayer
(Salaah) is one of the most important pillars of Islam, second only to
the Shahaadah. It is also an individual obligation on each and every one
of us. The Ulama say that 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.
Yet, there are innumerable excuses we come up with, to not pray, either on time or not pray at all.
Some of the most common excuses are:
Excuse #1:Allah is al-Ghafoor ar-Raheem. He will forgive me.
Reply: Yes, surely Allaah is al-Ghafoor ar-Raheem but, did you
forget, O Muslim, that He also said that He is ash-Shadeed ul-Iqaab
(severe in punishment).
“And fear Allaah much and know that Allaah is Severe in punishment.” (Surah al-Baqarah:196)
And the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
“The covenant that stands between us and them
(non-Muslims) is prayer; whoever gives up prayer is a kaafir.”
(Tirmidhi, al-Nasaa’i, Ibn Maajah–saheeh ).
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.
Just look at what the people of Hell will say when asked:
“What has caused you to enter Hell?” They will say: “We were not among those who prayed (Salaat).” [Surah al-Muddaththir:42-43]
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:
“Between a man and kufr and shirk, there stands his giving up prayer.” (Muslim)
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 even a few
minutes out of the whole 24 hours to worship the very One Who created
you in the first place?? You mean you don’t have time to thank the Lord
of the worlds for everything He’s given you…..ALL His blessings?? What
kind of ungrateful soul are you??!!
And if He wanted to take all these blessings away from you, is there anything, anything you could do?!!
“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.” [Surah 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.” [Surah al-Nisa':103]
And Allaah says:
“So woe unto those performers of Salaah (prayers).
Those who delay their Salaah (prayer from their stated fixed times).”
[Surah 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).” [Baqarah :208]
“Successful indeed are the believers. Those who
offer their Salaat with all solemnity and full submissiveness…’
[al-Mu'minoon: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: Remember that 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,
Fir’aun, 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 Fir’aun; 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: Remember that it is not your boss, but Allaah that provides
RIZQ for you and me. If this job is keeping you away from the most
important duty as a Muslim, is this job really worth it? 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.” (Surah al-Munaafiqoon:9)
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.” [Surah 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 while fulfilling his
relogious obligations, 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. DO NOT let him win.
Ibraaheem al-Nakhaa’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.” [Surah al-Aa'raaf:200]
Excuse #11: I have made/am making so many mistakes in my life, it is no use for me to pray. Allaah will never forgive me.
Reply: Now, this is another one 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.
Allaah encourages us to do tauba when He said:
“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.” [Surah al-Zumar:53]
Subhaan Allaah! How Forgiving is our Rabb and how Merciful!
Isn’t this Ayah enough, even for the worst of sinners among us?
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.” [Surah Hood:114]
Excuse #12: I don’t pray, but I have a good heart.
I am a good person and I never hurt anyone.
Reply: The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) 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).
So no matter what good deeds you did in this dunya, if you didn’t
pray, nothing will count or even be accepted…..no zakaah, no fasting, no
Hajj, no nothing.
“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. (Fatawa 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, your duty is to call
them to Allah by advising them and setting 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 (Paradise) is for the muttaqoon
(pious).” [Ta-Ha:132]
Excuse #15: I will pray when I am older/after Hajj/ Ramadhan.
Reply: Do you want to be from 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 live until Hajj or Ramadhaan??
What if you die tomorrow?? What if it was today???
CONCLUSION:
There can be no excuses as far as Salaah is concerned. We have to pray all the five prayers and all of them on time.
“O you who believe! Fear Allaah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” [ al-Tawbah:119]
“Guard strictly the (five obligatory) prayers,
especially the middle Salaat (˜Asr). And stand before Allaah with
obedience.” [Surah al-Baqarah 2:238]
http://www.farhathashmi.com/articles-section/worship/so-whats-your-excuse-for-salah/
