The statements of Islamic scholars about abandoning prayers

The statements of Islamic scholars about the value of prayers

Now, let us listen to the statements of Islamic scholars about the value of prayers:

Umar Ibn Khattab (r.a) was stabbed by a Zoroastrian slave while he was leading the morning prayer. He fell down and fainted. Hz. Umar was reminded by the believers that the sun was about to rise and that the time for the morning prayer was about to elapse.   Hz. Umar, who was unconscious, suddenly stood up when he heard this warning and said, “A person who abandons prayers has no share from Islam.”

Then, he led the morning prayer though there was blood coming from his back and fell down. Then, he died. (Muwatta: 1/40, Daraqutni: 2/52)

Hz. Ali and Hz. Sa’d (radiyallahu anhuma) stated the following about abandoning prayers:“A person who abandons performing prayers becomes an unbeliever.” (Ibn Abi Shayba - Bukhari, Tarikh)

Hz. Abu Hurayra (r.a.) expressed the importance of accepting the call to prayer as follows: “It is better for man to fill his ears with molten lead than not to accept the call to prayer (not to perform the prayer) when he hears it.” (Mulla Aliyyul Qari & Mirqatul Mafatih: 1/272)

Abdullah bin Shaqiq al Uqayli expressed the thoughts of the Companions regarding prayer as follows:  “The Companions of Messenger of Allah (pbuh) regarded only abandoning prayers among deeds as unbelief.” Imam Tirmidhi

Hz. Umar (r.a) used to write the following to his governors: “In my eye, the most important deed of you is prayer. A person who maintains it maintains his religion. A person who loses it by not performing it loses other things more.” (Mulla Aliyyul Qari & Mirqatul Mafatih: 1/272)

Ata al-Khurasani (r.a.), one of the greatest hadith and tafsir scholars of the era of Tabiin, states the following about prayer: “The earth will be a witness for a person who prostrates to Allah anywhere in the world on the Day of Judgment. When he dies, the earth cries for him.” (Mirqatul Mafatih: 1/272)

Abdullah Ibn Abbas (r.a), who is called as the Translator of the Quran and the Sea of Knowledge due to his high level of knowledge, states the following about those who abandon prayers: “A person who abandons performing prayers definitely becomes an unbeliever.“(Muhammad bin Nasr al Marwazi- and Ibn Abdilbarr)

Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu anh), one of the notables of the Companions, states the following about abandoning prayers:  “A person who abandons prayers has no religion.” (Mulla Aliyyul Qari & Mirqatul Mafatih: 1/272)

Jabir bin Abdullah (r.a.), one of the Companions states the following about abandoning prayers: ”If a Muslim does not perform prayers, he becomes an unbeliever.” (Ibn Abdilbarr)

The great Companion Abu Darda (r.a.) states the following about prayers: “A person who does not perform prayers has no belief; the prayer of a person who has no wudu is not accepted.” (Mulla Aliyyul Qari & Mirqatul Mafatih: 1/272)

You have heard about the statements of the Prophet (pbuh), the Companions and the Islamic scholars about the value of prayers and abandoning prayers. In this period, when abandoning performing prayers is regarded as something ordinary, our aim is to try to explain that the biggest cruelty a Muslim inflicts upon himself is to abandon prayers.   

We have only quoted the statements regarding the issue with their references so that a person who abandons prayers will notice what a big sin he commits and that he becomes an unbeliever according to many scholars. 

For, to perform prayers properly becomes possible by appreciating its value and importance. We hope this work will help us understand the value of prayers.  Success and guidance come from Allah.

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