Chapter undefined: PART 1, CHAPTER 2 — WARNINGS FOR NEGLECTING SALAAH

The books of Hadith mention very severe punishments for those who neglect Salaah. A few Ahaadith are mentioned in this chapter. A single warning from Rasulullah ﷺ should be enough. Out of love and mercy for his followers, he has warned them again and again in different ways, so that they do not neglect Salaah and suffer the punishment. In spite of this, we are still unmindful of Salaah, and have the audacity to consider ourselves the followers of Rasulullah ﷺ and the champions of Islam.

Translation: Hadhrat Jaabir bin Abdillah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ narrates that he heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying:

Translation: 1. “To leave out Salaah is to be joined with kufr.”

Translation: 2. “To leave out Salaah is to be joined with kufr and shirk.”

Translation: 3. “Leaving out of Salaah is the only difference between Imaan and kufr.”

Note: There are a number of Ahaadith on this subject. On one occasion, Rasulullah ﷺ is reported to have said: “Hasten in your Salaah when it is cloudy (in case you make a mistake and miss the correct time).

To leave out Salaah is to become a kaafir.” What a stern warning against even missing the correct time of Salaah, as (according to this quotation) to miss the correct time of Salaah is like leaving it out. Although, according to the interpretation of the Ulama, the verdict of kufr is given against a person only when he rejects (and not simply neglects) Salaah, yet the words of Rasulullah ﷺ in these Ahaadith should be very weighty for those who have any regard for him. However, it may be noted that some of the very important Sahaabah of Rasulullah ﷺ like Hadhrat Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , Abdullah bin Mas’ood رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , Abdullah bin Abbas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , etc. and eminent Fuqahaa like Imaam Ahmad bin Hambal, Ishaaq bin Raahwayh, Ibn Mubaarak, رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ , etc. are definitely of the opinion that the verdict of kufr can be given against the person who intentionally leaves out his Salaah. May Allah Ta’ala save us!

Translation: Hadhrat Ubaadah bin Saamit رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ narrates; “My dear friend, Rasulullah ﷺ , instructed me with seven good practices, ‘Do not ascribe anything as a partner to Allah Ta’ala, though you may be Note: In another Hadith, Hadhrat Abu Darda رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says, “My dear Rasul ﷺ warned me saying, ‘Do not ascribe anything as partner unto Allah Ta’ala even if you may be cut into pieces or burnt alive or crucified; do not discard Salaah intentionally, as Allah Ta’ala is free from any obligation to a person who knowingly neglects Salaah, and do not take wine, for that is the key to all evils.’”

Translation: Hadhrat Mu’aaz bin Jabal رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ narrates: “Rasulullah ﷺ instructed me with ten things:

Translation: 1. ‘Do not believe in anything as a partner with Allah Ta’ala, though you may be killed or burnt alive.

Translation: 2. Do not disobey your parents, though you may have to leave your wife or all your wealth.

3. Do not neglect the Fardh Salaah intentionally, for Allah Ta’ala does not care about a person who neglects the Fardh Salaah intentionally.

4. Do not drink wine, for it is an evil habit and the root of every evil.

5. Do not disobey Allah Ta’ala, for that brings about the anger of Allah Ta’ala.

6. Do not turn your back to the enemy in battle, though all your companions may have died.

7. Do not escape from a locality where a disease has broken out.

8. Spend on your family members according to your capacity.

9. Let your rod be hanging on them as a warning and 10. Keep on instilling the fear of Allah in them.”

According to this Hadith, we should not spare the rod in checking the children from becoming reckless in doing whatever they like. Sometimes it is necessary to use the rod. It is a pity that, out of love, we do not use the rod in the beginning and when the children get spoilt, we cry and complain about them. To spare the rod and spoil the child is no kindness at all. Who would like to save a child from a surgical operation under advice from a doctor for the simple reason that it would cause pain to him? Rasulullah ﷺ has said: “Command your child with Salaah when he is seven years old and punish him if he neglects it when he reaches ten.”

Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says, “Guard the Salaah of your children and inculcate good habits in them.” Luqmaan عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ the wise used to say, “The use of the rod on a child is as necessary as is water for the fields.” Rasulullah ﷺ has said, “A person advising his children earns more reward from Allah Ta’ala than spending about (seven pounds) 3kg of grain in His path.” In another Hadith Rasulullah ﷺ has said, “May Allah Ta’ala bless a person who keeps a lash hanging in his house for the warning of his house people.”

He also said, “No father can give anything better to his children than teaching them good manners.”

Translation: Hadhrat Naufal ibn Mu’aawiyah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ narrates that he heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying, “A person who has missed one Salaah is like one who has lost all his family and wealth.”

Note: Salaah is missed usually when a person is in the company of his family members or whilst he is earning money. According to this Hadith, the ultimate loss suffered in missing a single Salaah is in no way less than losing one’s entire family and property. In other words, if we miss a Salaah, we should be as much grieved as when we lose all our family and belongings. If we are warned by some truthful person about gangsters on a certain road, where people are robbed and killed during the night, we need to be very brave to ignore the warning and travel on that road even during the daytime. It is strange that we have been warned again and again by Rasulullah ﷺ and we definitely believe that he was the true Nabi of Allah Ta’ala, yet we do not take heed and go on missing Salaah one after the other.

Translation: Hadhrat Ibn Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا narrates that he heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying, “A person who joins two Salaahs without any strong excuse, reaches one of the doors of kabaa’ir (major sins).”

Note: Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ reports that Rasulullah ﷺ once said. “Do not delay in three things; Salaah when its time has set in, burial when the Janaazah is ready and the marriage of a woman when her match is found.”

Many people, who consider themselves as pious and punctual on their salaah, perform many Salaah together on returning home, on the very weak excuse of travel, business or job. To delay Salaah without a strong excuse (e.g. illness, etc.) is a major sin. Although it is not as bad as not reading Salaah at all, yet it is quite serious.

Translation: Hadhrat Abdullah bin Amr رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ narrates that once Rasulullah ﷺ , while talking about Salaah, said: “For the one who used to perform Salaah, it shall be a light for him on the Day of Qiyaamah, an argument in his favour, and a means of saving him from Jahannam. There will be no light, no defence and no safety from punishment for him who does not guard his Salaah. He shall be raised up with Qaaroon, Firaun, Haamaan and Ubayy bin Khalaf.”

Note: Everybody knows that Firaun the disbeliever had been so proud that he claimed himself to be ‘God’. He ordered his people to worship him. Haamaan was his Chief Minister and friend. Ubayy bin Khalaf was the worst enemy of Islam among the disbelievers of Makkah. Before Hijrah, he would say to Rasulullah ﷺ most rudely, “I have trained a horse which I feed very well. I will kill you one day riding on its back.” Once, Nabi ﷺ replied to him, “Insha-Allah! I will kill you.”

In the battle of Uhud, he ran about the field in search of Nabi ﷺ saying, “If Muhammad ﷺ is not killed today, then I stand no chance of surviving.” At last he found Rasulullah ﷺ and went forward to attack him. The Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ decided to kill him before he reached Rasulullah ﷺ , but Rasulullah ﷺ stopped them. When he approached, Nabi ﷺ took a spear from one of the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ and struck him, causing a little scratch on his neck. He stumbled and fell from his horse and ran towards his camp crying, “By Allah! Muhammad ﷺ has killed me!” His people tried to calm him down by saying, “It was only a scratch and there was nothing to worry about.” He said, “Muhammad (ﷺ ) had once told me in Makkah that he would kill me. By Allah, if he only spat at me, I would have died.” He cried like a bull. Abu Sufyaan, who was very active on that day, put him to shame for crying so profusely over a slight wound. He said, “Do you know who caused me this injury? It was none other than Muhammad (ﷺ ). By Laat and Uzza! (Names of his idols) If my pain was to be distributed over all the people of Arabia, none of them would survive. Since the time he had said that he would kill me, I was sure that I would die at his hands. If he only spat at me, I would have fallen dead.” He died on his return to Makkah. Look! A disbeliever like Ubayy bin Khalaf is so sure about the truth of the words of Rasulullah ﷺ that he does not have the slightest doubt about his own death. Where do we stand? Although we believe in him as the greatest Nabi of Allah, consider his words to be most genuine and boast of our love for him, yet how much do we practice on his advice. How much do we fear the punishments about which he has warned us! It is for us all to think about.

Ibn Hajar رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ , while quoting this Hadith, has also mentioned Qaaroon with Firaun and others. He writes: “Sharing the fate of these people on the Day of Qiyaamah will be due to the fact that these people were guilty of those causes that make us neglect our Salaah. Therefore, if a person neglects Salaah due to a craving for wealth, he will meet the fate of Qaaroon; if due to love for power, then that of Firaun; if due to a desire for attachment to a ruler, then that of Haamaan; and if due to business, then that of Ubbay Bin Khalaf.” Meeting the same fate as theirs, explains fully the severest tortures in store for those who neglect Salaah. Although the disbelievers shall have to suffer their punishment forever, the believers will be released after their period of punishment is over and will then be allowed to enter Jannah. But who knows that this period of punishment may last for thousands of years.

Translation: It is said in a Hadith that Allah Ta’ala gives five favours to a person who is mindful of his Salaah. His rizq (sustenance) is made easy for him; he is saved from the punishment in the grave; he shall receive his book of deeds in his right hand on the Day of Qiyaamah; (the details of this has been mentioned in Surah Al-Haaqqah that those who receive their book of deeds in their right hand will be extremely happy, showing their results to all), he shall cross the bridge of Siraat with the speed of lightning and he shall enter Jannah without being questioned.

Translation: As for him who neglects his Salaah, he shall meet five types of punishments in this world, three at the time of death, three in the grave and three in the Aakhirah.

Those in this world are: He is not blessed in his life. He will not have the noor (light) of piety on his face. He receives no rewards for his good practices. His duas are not answered and he has no share in the duas of the pious.

Those at the time of death are: He dies disgracefully. He dies hungry. He dies with such thirst that the water in the oceans of the world cannot quench.

Those in the grave are: He is squeezed so tightly that the ribs of one side go into the ribs of the other, fire is burnt inside the grave and he is rolled on burning coal day and night, a snake with fiery eyes and iron nails equal in length to a day’s journey is let loose on him and shouts in a thundering voice, “Allah Ta’ala has instructed me to lash you till sunrise for neglecting Fajr, till Asr for neglecting Zuhr, till sunset for neglecting Asr, till Esha for neglecting Maghrib and till morning for neglecting Esha.” The snake will keep on lashing him till the Last Day. Each blow pushes him to a depth of seventy arm’s length. This punishment will last till the Day of Qiyaamah.

Those in the Aakhirah are: His questioning will be made difficult.

Allah Ta’ala will be angry with him and he will be thrown into Jahannam. According to one report, he will have the following three lines written on his forehead:

‘O you who neglected Allah’s duties.’

‘O you who has deserved Allah’s anger.’

‘Lose all hope of Allah’s mercy, as you neglected your duty to Allah Ta’ala.’

Note: Famous Ulama like Ibn Hajr, Abu Lais Samarqandi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ and others, have mentioned this Hadith in their kitaabs. Although I have not been able to find the text in the original books of Hadith, yet other Ahaadith, some of which have already been mentioned and some are to follow, support its meaning. Neglect of Salaah, as has been stated above, leads one to kufr. Therefore no punishment is too severe for this offence. But we should remember that even after a person is guilty, Allah Ta’ala is free to forgive him as and when He pleases. Allah says in the Qur-aan Shareef:

Translation: “Verily Allah Ta’ala shall not forgive that shirk be committed but will forgive all other sins for whom He wills.” (Surah Nisaa’ – Aayah 116)

If then it pleases Allah Ta’ala to forgive anybody neglecting Salaah, it will be most fortunate; but who can be sure of this fortune?

It is also stated in a Hadith that there will be three courts to be held by Allah Ta’ala on the Day of Qiyaamah. The first will judge between kufr and Islam and there will be no forgiveness. The second will be to judge our duties and conduct towards other people. All the aggrieved shall be repaid by either the people who had wronged them or by Allah Ta’ala Himself, i.e. if He pleases to forgive anybody. The third will deal with our duties towards Allah Ta’ala. Here the doors of the mercy of Allah Ta’ala will be thrown wide open and He will forgive anybody He wills. Taking into account what has been said above, it must be clearly understood that we deserve the punishments that have been laid down because of our committing of sins, but the all-embracing mercy of Allah Ta’ala overrides everything and knows no bounds.

In Bukhaari Shareef there is a narration that it was the habit of Rasulullah ﷺ to ask the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ after Fajr if anybody had seen a dream. He would then interpret the dream. One day, after asking, Rasulullah ﷺ himself narrated a long dream in which two men came and took him. He reported certain things which he saw in his dream. He said: “I saw the head of a person being crushed with a heavy stone. It was struck with such force that, after crushing the head, the stone rolled over a long distance. The head would return to its normal shape and the stone repeated the process. This continued non-stop. Rasulullah ﷺ asked his two companions that who is this person (being punished). He was told that this is that person who learnt the Qur-aan Shareef, but never used to recite it nor practice upon it. He would also go to sleep without reading the Fardh Salaah.” There is a similar narration, in which Rasulullah ﷺ had seen (in his dream) a group of people being treated in the same manner. Jibraa-eel عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ informed him that those were the people who used to neglect their Salaah.

Mujaahid رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ says, “Allah Ta’ala blesses the people who guard their Salaah, just as he blessed Hadhrat Ibraheem عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ and his descendants.”

Hadhrat Anas عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ narrates that he heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying, “If a person dies with sincere Imaan, observing the commandments of Allah Ta’ala, performing Salaah and paying Zakaat, Allah Ta’ala is pleased with him when he dies.”

Hadhrat Anas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ narrates that he heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying, “Allah Ta’ala says, ‘I hold back the punishment from an area when I see people who always go to the Masjid, love one another for My sake, and make dua asking for forgiveness in the hours of darkness.’”

Hadhrat Abu Darda رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ wrote to Hadhrat Salmaan رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ saying: “Spend most of your time in the Masjid. I have heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying, ‘The Masjid is the place of the pious. Allah Ta’ala blesses the person who spends most of his time in the Masjid. Allah Ta’ala shall keep him in comfort and shall enable him to cross the bridge of Siraat with ease. Surely Allah Ta’ala is pleased with such a person.’”

Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ narrates that he heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying: “The Masaajid are the Houses of Allah Ta’ala and people who go there are His visitors. When everybody treats his visitors kindly, why should Allah Ta’ala not be kind to His visitors?”

Hadhrat Abu Sa’eed Khudri رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ narrates that he heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying: “Allah Ta’ala loves the person who is attached to the Masjid.” Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ , narrates that he heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying, “After a dead person is laid in the grave, even before the people present at his burial go away, Munkar and Nakeer visit him. Then if the person is a believer, his good actions encircle him; Salaah comes close to his head, Zakaat to his right, Fast to his left, and the remaining good actions towards his feet, so that no one can approach him. Even the Malaaikah do the necessary questioning while standing at a distance.”

One of the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ reports that, when the people of Rasulullah’s ﷺ house were in difficulty, he would ask them to perform Salaah and recite the following Aayah:

Translation: “And instruct your family to perform Salaah and you yourself remain steadfast on it. We do not ask you to provide sustenance, but We provide it for you. And the best result (rewards in the Aakhirah) is for adopting Taqwa.” (Surah Taahaa – Aayah 132)

THOSE WHO WILL GO TO JANNAH WITHOUT ANY HISAAB

Hadhrat Asma رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا narrates that she heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying, “All the people will be gathered together on the Day of Qiyaamah in the beginning the angel will say: “All those gathered here will see today who are the honoured people,” and with the addition that the angel at the time of third announcement will say: “Where are those whom their engagement in trade and business did not distract from Salaah and the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala?”

Shaikh Nasar Samarqandi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ after quoting this lengthy Hadith in Tambeehul Ghaafileen, writes, “When all the three groups will have entered Jannah without questioning, a monster with a long neck, shining eyes and most well-spoken tongue will rise up from Jahannam and say; ‘I have been appointed for all who are proud and ill-tempered.’ It will then pick up all such persons from the crowd, as a fowl picks up grain, and then it will fling them into the Jahannam. It will rise up again saying; ‘This time I have been appointed for all those who spoke bad about Allah Ta’ala and His Rasul ﷺ .’ It will then pick up all such people and throw them into Jahannam. It will appear for the third time and will, in a similar manner, take away all those who made images and pictures. The questioning will then begin only after these three groups have been dealt with.

Previously, people could see shaytaan. A person came to shaytaan saying that he wanted to be like him. Shaytaan told him that no one had ever asked him such a question before and asked him why he made such a request. The person replied that he wished it from his heart. Shaytaan asked him to neglect his Salaah and to take false oaths very often, not caring about being honest in this regard. The person told Shaytaan that, By Allah Ta’ala! Never will he give up Salaah and never will he take false oaths. Shaytaan told him that he had never been tricked before by a human being. He also made a promise never to advise a human again.

Hadhrat Ubayy رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ narrates that he heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying, “Give good news to the Muslims that they shall be honoured and their Deen shall become powerful. There is no share in the Aakhirah for those who use Islam for the dunya (world).”

Rasulullah ﷺ is reported to have said, “I saw Allah Ta’ala in His best form. He said to me, ‘O Muhammad! What are the most exalted Malaaikah (Al-Malaul’alaa) arguing about?’ I said, ‘I have no knowledge about that.’ Allah Ta’ala placed His gracious hand on my chest. I felt its comforting coolness right through my heart and the entire universe was revealed to me. I said, ‘They are arguing about the things which elevate a person’s rank, those things that cause a person’s sins to be forgiven, the rewards for the steps taken when going for Salaah (with Jamaat), the rewards of performing wudhu properly when it is very cold and the blessings that a person deserves when, after performing one Salaah, keeps on sitting in the masjid till the next Salaah. A person particular on these shall live a blessed life and shall have a good death.”

Rasulullah ﷺ is reported (in many Ahaadith) to have said, “Allah Ta’ala says, ‘O, Son of Aadam! Perform four rakaats of Salaah in the early part of the day, I shall help you in completing all your work during the rest of the day.”

In Tambeehul Ghaafileen there is a Hadith: “Salaah is the cause of the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala, it is loved by the Malaaikah, it is a practice of the Ambiyaa عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَامُ , it enables you to recognise Allah Ta’ala, it causes our duas to be accepted, it is a means of barakah in our rizq, it is the root of Imaan, it refreshes the body, it is a weapon against the enemy, it shall beg forgiveness on behalf of its reader, it is a light in the darkness of the grave, it is a source of comfort in the loneliness of the grave, it is a reply to the questioning of the Malaaikah, it is a shade against the sun on the day of Qiyaamah, it is a protection against the fire of Jahannam, it is a weight for the scales of good deeds, it is a means of crossing quickly over the bridge of Siraat and it is a key to Jannah.”

Hadhrat Usmaan رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ is reported to have said, “Allah Ta’ala grants nine favours to a person who guards his Salaah and is particular in performing it at the correct time, viz.

1. He is loved by Allah Ta’ala,

2. He enjoys good health,

3. He is always under the protection of the Malaaikah,

4. His home is blessed,

5. There is noor (light of righteousness) on his face,

6. His heart is made soft,

7. He shall cross the bridge of Siraat with the speed of lightning,

8. He is saved from Jahannam, and

9. His neighbours in Jannah are those about whom Allah Ta’ala has said: ﴿وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ﴾ “And there shall neither be any fear upon them, nor shall they grieve” (Surah Baqarah – Aayah 36).

Rasulullah ﷺ says, “Salaah is the pillar of Islam and it has ten virtues, viz;

1. It enlightens the face,

2. It is a light of the heart,

3. It is a source of comfort and refreshment for the body,

4. It is a company in the grave,

5. It is a means for the Mercy of Allah Ta’ala coming down.

6. It is a key to Jannah,

7. It is a weight for the scales (of good deeds),

8. It is a means of winning the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala,

9. It is the price of Jannah, and

10. It is a protection against the fire of Jahannam.

A person who is particular on his Salaah, in fact establishes Deen, and one who neglects it, demolishes (so to say, the structure of) Deen.”

It is mentioned in one Hadith that to perform Salaah in one’s home is a noor (a light). So brighten up your homes with Salaah. It is a famous Hadith that my Ummah, on the day of Qiyaamah, will have faces and limbs shining because of Wudhu and Sajdah. This will be the distinguishing factor between us and other Ummats.

It is mentioned in another Hadith that when any calamity descends from the skies, it is removed from those who frequent the Masjid.

It is mentioned in many Ahaadith that Allah Ta’ala has forbidden Jahannam to burn the places of sajdah. (If, per chance, a person has to enter Jahannam due to his evil deeds, the fire will not affect those areas where there are signs of sajdah).

In one Hadith it is mentioned that Salaah blackens the face of the devil and Sadaqah breaks his back.

According to one Hadith, Salaah is a cure. Once, when Rasulullah ﷺ saw Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ lying on his stomach, he asked him, “Are you suffering from stomach pain?” He replied, ‘Yes’. Rasulullah ﷺ said, “Then get up and busy yourself in Salaah, because Salaah will cure you.”

Once, Rasulullah ﷺ saw Jannah in his dream and heard the footsteps of Hadhrat Bilaal رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ . The next morning he asked Hadhrat Bilaal رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ : “What action of yours helped you to follow me even in Jannah?” He replied: “When my wudhu breaks at night, I make a fresh wudhu and perform as many rakaats of Nafl Salaah as I can.”

Safeeri رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ writes: “The Malaaikah address a person who misses Fajr as; ‘O you wrongdoer’, and one who neglects Zuhr as; ‘O you loser’, and one who ignores Asr as; ‘O you transgressor’, and one who omits Maghrib as; ‘O you kaafir’, and one who does not perform Esha as; ‘O you violator of Allah Ta’ala’s commandments.”

Allama Sha’raani رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ writes: “It should be clearly understood that punishment is taken away from a locality where the people are particular about Salaah, whereas a locality where the people neglect Salaah is often afflicted by punishments. Earthquakes, storms and sinking of houses are not unexpected where people are not particular about Salaah. Just guarding one’s own Salaah is not enough, because when a punishment comes, it does not affect the wrongdoers only, but rather affects everybody in that locality. Once, the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ asked Rasulullah ﷺ ; “Can we be destroyed while there are pious people amongst us?” Rasulullah ﷺ replied, “Yes, if evil actions overtake good actions.” It is therefore necessary that other people should also be encouraged to obey the commandments of Allah Ta’ala and stay away from wrongdoing.

Translation: Rasulullah ﷺ said, “A person neglecting his Salaah (even though he performs it later) shall remain in Jahannam for a period of one Huqb. A Huqb is equal to eighty years of 360 days each, and a day in the Aakhirah shall equal 1000 years of this world.” (One huqb will be 28 800 000 years)

Note: Huqb in Arabic means a very long time. In most Ahaadith the meaning of Huqb has been explained as eighty years as mentioned above. This same amount has also been narrated in Durr-e-Mansoor from different narrations. Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ once asked Hilaal Hijri رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ what was the amount of a Huqb. He said that a Huqb is equal to 80 years and each year is equal to 12 months and each month is equal to 30 days and one day is equal to 1000 years. 80 years has also been narrated from Abdullah Ibn Masood رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ from authentic sources.

Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ has narrated from Rasulullah ﷺ that one Huqb is equal to 80 years and one year is equal to 360 days and one day will be equal to a 1000 years according to the days of this world. This information has also been narrated by Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا from Rasulullah ﷺ . Thereafter, Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمَا mentions that, “Don’t just rely on this that because of your Imaan you will eventually come out of Jahannam. You may only come out after so many years. i.e. 28 800 000 years. And that is if there are no other reasons for you to remain therein.” There are other durations mentioned in different Ahaadith which explain more or less days. But this amount mentioned above has come in many Ahaadith. Hence, this has been given preference. It is also possible that this duration may increase or decrease depending on the condition of the person.

Abul Lais Samarqandi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ has mentioned a Hadith in which Rasulullah ﷺ is reported to have said; “The name of a person who neglects even a single Fardh Salaah intentionally is written on the gate of Jahannam, which he must enter.” Hadhrat Ibnu Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ narrates that once, Rasulullah ﷺ said, “Please, O Allah!

Let not anyone of us be a miserable poor person.” He then asked: “Do you know who is a miserable poor person?” When the Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ asked, he explained to them saying, “A miserable poor person is the one who neglects his Salaah. In Islam there is nothing for him.”

In another Hadith it is said, “Allah Ta’ala will not care a bit for the person who had been neglecting his Salaah intentionally and there shall be a terrible end for him.”

It is said in a Hadith that ten people will be given extra punishment. One of them will be the person who neglects his Salaah. His hands will be tied while the Malaaikah shall beat him on his face and back. Jannah will say to him, “There is no place for you in me.” Jahannam will say to him, “Come to me. You are for me and I am for you.” It is also said that there is a valley in Jahannam named Lamlam. This valley is filled with snakes as fat as the neck of a camel and as long as one month’s journey. A person neglecting Salaah will be punished in this valley.

In another Hadith it is said that there is a place in Jahannam which is known as the pit of grief. It is inhabited by scorpions as huge as donkeys. This place is for punishing the people who neglect Salaah. Of course, there is no reason to worry if the most merciful Allah Ta’ala forgives our sins. But are we really prepared to ask for His forgiveness?

Ibn Hajar رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ writes in his book Zawaajir that; “A woman died. Her brother was present at her burial and mistakenly his wallet fell into the grave and was buried with the dead person. The brother realised this only after he had returned home and was very sorry for the loss. He decided to dig up the grave secretly and remove the wallet. When he dug it up, he saw that the grave was in flames. He returned home full of grief and narrated the incident to his mother. He asked her if she knew why it was so. His mother informed him that his sister used to delay in Salaah and read it after its correct time. May Allah Ta’ala save us from these habits!

Translation: Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ says that he heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying: “There is no place in Islam for a person who does not perform his Salaah, and there is no Salaah without wudhu.”

Hadhrat Abdullah bin Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ also heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying: “There is no Islam in a person who has no Salaah by him.

The position of Salaah in Islam is like the position of the head in a body.”

Note: Let those who do not offer Salaah and not only call themselves Muslims, but also boast of their being champions of the Muslim cause, ponder over these words of Nabi ﷺ . They dream of reviving the past glory of Islam, but would not care to know how the people responsible for that glory stuck steadfastly to the practices of Islam.

Hadhrat Abdullah bin Abbaas رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ suffered from cataract of the eye. People told him that the disease could be treated, but he would have to miss his Salaah for a few days. He said: “This is not possible! I have heard Rasulullah ﷺ saying, ‘A person who does not perform his Salaah, will stand before Allah Ta’ala while Allah Ta’ala will be angry with him.’” The Sahaabah رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُمْ of Rasulullah ﷺ would prefer to become blind rather than to leave out Salaah even for a few days. When Hadhrat Umar رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ was stabbed by a kaafir, he often remained unconscious and eventually passed away due to heavy bleeding. On his deathbed he was made aware of the time of Salaah and he performed Salaah in that very condition and would say: “There is no place in Islam for a person who does not perform his Salaah.” These days it is considered unkind and improper to make the patient perform salaah or even allow him to perform it. What a world of difference there is between the view points and approach of the Muslims of these two ages!

Poetic Translation: Look at the difference between the paths; what a great deviation!

Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ once asked Nabi ﷺ to give him a servant. Nabi ﷺ said; “Here are three slaves. Take the one you prefer.” Hadhrat Ali رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ said, “Can you please choose one for me.” Rasulullah ﷺ pointed towards a certain man, saying, “Take this one. He is particular about his Salaah. You are not to hit him. We are not allowed to hit anyone who performs Salaah.” There is another incident mentioned in this regard about Abul Haysam رَضِيَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ who also requested a slave from Rasulullah ﷺ . We, on the other hand, mock our servants and consider him a liability if he goes for Salaah.

Sufyaan Sauri رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ , the famous Sufi once fell into a state of ecstasy. He remained in his house for seven days without taking sleep, food and drink. When his Shaikh was informed of his condition, he inquired if Sufyaan رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ was observing the hours of his Salaah. He was told that his Salaah was quite regular and safe. At this, the Shaikh remarked,

Translation: “All praise be to Allah Ta’ala, Who has not allowed Shaytaan to have an upper hand on him!”