بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Assalamu Alaikum.
So many Muslims stand in prayer every day – yet not everyone might have their prayers accepted. Why?
So many Muslims stand shoulder to shoulder in the masjid daily – yet the reward of each person differs. Why?
Well, there are varying reasons for both of these – some are general to all acts of worship, whilst others are specific to the prayer.
The conditions for the acceptance of deeds are something general to all acts of worship. In order for any deed to be accepted by Allah, it needs to fulfill two conditions:
1. Sincerity
All acts of worship should be done for the sake of Allah alone.
عن عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ ـ رضى الله عنه قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ :إِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى، فَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى دُنْيَا يُصِيبُهَا أَوْ إِلَى امْرَأَةٍ يَنْكِحُهَا فَهِجْرَتُهُ إِلَى مَا هَاجَرَ إِلَيْهِ
Umar ibn Al-Khattab (radiallahu anhu) narrated: I heard Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) saying, “The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Hadeeth No. 1]
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Say: “Verily, my salaah (prayers), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists).” [Surah Al-Anaam (6) : 162]
2. Following the Sunnah
Every act of worship has to be done the way the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) did it.
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، رضى الله عنها قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَذَا مَا لَيْسَ فِيهِ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ”
So, for a person’s prayer to be accepted by Allah, they need to pray for the sake of Allah and also pray the way the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) prayed.
As for the reasons related to the prayer itself, there are certain acts that affect the prayer when they are neglected. Some invalidate the prayer completely, whilst others remove or decrease its reward.
The wording of the ahadeeth vary with regard to this. Sometimes, “Allah does not accept the prayer of” is used, whilst other times “There is no prayer for the one who” is mentioned. There are some other variations as well.
The general rule is as follows: If the act relates to the prayer itself, then that means that the prayer is nullified i.e. as though the person did not perform it. However, if the act relates to matters outside the prayer, then this could mean a removal or a reduction in the prayer’s reward, with the prayer itself being valid.
Acts related to the prayer itself
Conditions of Prayer
This relates to things like conditions (which precede the prayer and continue throughout it) like doing wudhu (ablution). Prayer is not accepted without wudhu (ablution) so a person has to do wudhu before prayer (if they are not in a state of wudhu), and also be in a state of wudhu throughout the prayer.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : لاَ يَقْبَلُ اللَّهُ صَلاَةَ أَحَدِكُمْ إِذَا أَحْدَثَ حَتَّى يَتَوَضَّأَ
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu): The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Allah does not accept prayer of anyone of you if he does Hadath (passes wind) till he performs the ablution (anew). [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 9, Hadeeth No. 86]
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : لاَ تُقْبَلُ صَلاَةُ الْحَائِضِ إِلاَّ بِخِمَارٍ
Aishah (radiallahu anha) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “The prayer of a woman who has reached the age of menstruation is not accepted without a Khimar (veil).” [Jaami At-Tirmidhi, Hadeeth No. 377. Graded “sahih” (authentic) by Al-Albani.]
Khimar refers to a veil covering the body. So when a woman (who has reached the age of puberty) prays, she needs to cover her entire body except for her hands and face. As for the feet, there is some dispute amongst the scholars over that but the far safer option is to cover them.
This hadeeth is a warning to all women. Over the years, I have seen so many sisters praying with their hair showing, or wrists exposed or with their clothes above their ankles. Subhan Allah, we have to be very careful with regard to this whilst praying.
Pillars of Prayer
Fulfilling the conditions of prayer is not the only thing we need to be concerned about. Fulfilling the pillars of prayer is also important as leaving one can invalidate the prayer.
Reciting Surah Al-Faatihah is a pillar, and leaving it cancels out the entire prayer.
عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ : لاَ صَلاَةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ
Narrated Ubadaah bin As-Samit (radiallahu anhu) that Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “There is no Salah (prayer) for one who does not recite Faatihatil-Kitab (the Opening of the Book).” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Hadeeth No. 723]
Many Muslims recite Al-Faatihah incorrectly so much so that some words come out sounding very different than they should. This is very dangerous. We have to work on reciting the Quran correctly.
What about new Muslims? Well, they have the option to recite something else until they memorise Al-Faatihah. However, this is not meant to be done for years! I once met a convert sister who had recited this for 7 years because her teacher had taught her that and she still had not learnt Al-Faatihah. She realised the gravity of her error only after seeing my shocked expression. Subhan Allah, we have to always make sure to guide new Muslims properly and not mislead them.
Another thing that invalidates the prayer is not bowing and prostrating properly. Both of these are also pillars of prayer and thus must be done properly.
عَنْ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ الْبَدْرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : لاَ تُجْزِئُ صَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ حَتَّى يُقِيمَ ظَهْرَهُ فِي الرُّكُوعِ وَالسُّجُودِ
Narrated Abu Masud al-Badri (radiallahu anhu): The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: A man’s prayer will not be acceptable until (he) brings his back to rest during the bowing and the prostration. [Sunan Abee Dawood, Hadeeth 855. Graded “sahih” (authentic) by Al-Albani.]
This type of person is described as the worst thief – because they steal from their prayer.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:أَسْوَأُ النَّاسِ سَرَقَةً الَّذِي يَسْرِقُ صَلَاتَهُ. قَالَ: وَكَيْفَ يَسْرِقُ صَلَاتَهُ؟ قال: لَا يُتِمُّ رُكُوعَهَا، وَلَا سُجُودَهَا
Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “The worst of thieves among people is the one who steals his prayer.” He said: “How does he steal his prayer?” He said: “He does not perform its bowing or prostration perfectly.” [Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadeeth No. 1888. Shuaib Al-Arnaut stated that its isnaad (chain of narrators) was “hasan” (good).]
Imagine the state of those people who have spent their entire lifetime praying incorrectly.
عن أبي هريرة عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال إنَّ الرجلَ ليُصلِّي ستِّينَ سنةً و ما تُقبَلُ له صلاةٌ، لعله يتمُّ الركوعَ، ولا يتمُّ السُّجودَ، ويتمُّ السجودَ ولا يتمُّ الركوعَ
Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) stated: “Verily, a man may perform prayers for sixty years, while not one of his prayers will be accepted from him; [the reason being that] perhaps he will complete (and perfect) the bowing (Ruku), but he will not complete the prostration (Sujood); or perhaps he will complete the prostration, but he will not complete the bowing.” [Sahih At-Targheeb, Hadeeth No. 529]
What would their death be upon?
عَنْ زَيْد بْنَ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ رَأَى حُذَيْفَةُ رَجُلاً لاَ يُتِمُّ الرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ قَالَ مَا صَلَّيْتَ، وَلَوْ مُتَّ مُتَّ عَلَى غَيْرِ الْفِطْرَةِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدًا صلى الله عليه وسلم.
Narrated Zaid bin Wahb: Hudhaifah (radiallahu anhu) saw a person who was not performing the bowing and prostration perfectly. He said to him, “You have not prayed and if you were to die, you would die on a path other than the natural disposition (fitrah) upon which Allah created Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam).” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Hadeeth No. 757]
This is a frightening warning. We have to ensure that each part of the prayer is done correctly.
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، دَخَلَ الْمَسْجِدَ يُصَلِّي وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي نَاحِيَةِ الْمَسْجِدِ، فَجَاءَ فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ لَهُ ” ارْجِعْ فَصَلِّ، فَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تُصَلِّ ”. فَرَجَعَ فَصَلَّى، ثُمَّ سَلَّمَ فَقَالَ ” وَعَلَيْكَ، ارْجِعْ فَصَلِّ، فَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تُصَلِّ ”. قَالَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ فَأَعْلِمْنِي. قَالَ ” إِذَا قُمْتَ إِلَى الصَّلاَةِ فَأَسْبِغِ الْوُضُوءَ، ثُمَّ اسْتَقْبِلِ الْقِبْلَةَ فَكَبِّرْ، وَاقْرَأْ بِمَا تَيَسَّرَ مَعَكَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ، ثُمَّ ارْكَعْ حَتَّى تَطْمَئِنَّ رَاكِعًا، ثُمَّ ارْفَعْ رَأْسَكَ حَتَّى تَعْتَدِلَ قَائِمًا، ثُمَّ اسْجُدْ حَتَّى تَطْمَئِنَّ، سَاجِدًا ثُمَّ ارْفَعْ حَتَّى تَسْتَوِيَ وَتَطْمَئِنَّ جَالِسًا، ثُمَّ اسْجُدْ حَتَّى تَطْمَئِنَّ سَاجِدًا، ثُمَّ ارْفَعْ حَتَّى تَسْتَوِيَ قَائِمًا، ثُمَّ افْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فِي صَلاَتِكَ كُلِّهَا ”
Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiallahu anhu): A man entered the mosque and started praying while Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was sitting somewhere in the mosque. Then (after finishing the prayer) the man came to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and greeted him. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said to him, “Go back and pray, for you have not prayed. The man went back, and having prayed, he came and greeted the Prophet. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) after returning his greetings said, “Go back and pray, for you did not pray.” On the third time the man said, “Teach me (how to pray).” The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “When you get up for the prayer, perform the ablution properly and then face the Qibla and say Takbir (Allahu Akbar), and then recite of what you know of the Quran, and then bow, and remain in this state till you feel at rest in bowing, and then raise your head and stand straight; and then prostrate till you feel at rest in prostration, and then sit up till you feel at rest while sitting; and then prostrate again till you feel at rest in prostration; and then get up and stand straight, and do all this in all your prayers.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadeeth No. 660]
It’s upon every Muslim to learn about the conditions, pillars and requirements for prayer. Here’s a book which discusses that, and here’s the explanation of this book.
Part 2 will discuss those acts that are not related to the prayer itself, in shaa Allah.
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