How should we understand the hadith "The only thing that distinguishes between a Muslim and an unbeliever is prayer"?
Submitted by on Mon, 07/09/2020 - 14:47
Dear Brother / Sister,
"Between man and unbelief/polytheism is abandoning performing prayers.“ (Muslim, Iman 134; Abu Dawud, Sunnah 15)
“The covenant between munafiqs (hypocrites) and us is prayer.” (Tirmidhi, Iman 9; Nasai, Salah 8)
The threats in hadiths above are about those who “who deny that performing prayers is fard or those who regard not performing prayers legitimate”. Polytheism and hypocrisy are not in question for a person who accepts prayer as a command of Allah but acts lazily related to performing prayers. Such Muslims do not become unbelievers or munafiqs.
However, it should not be forgotten that a person who does not perform prayers will be exposed to some dangers over time.
Questions on Islam
- How should we understand the hadith "The only difference that distinguishes between a Muslim and an unbeliever is prayer (salah)"?
- Some people claim that not performing prayers is shirk (polytheism) and unbelief. How true is their statement?
- How is the end of a person who has never performed daily prayers in his life; is he considered to have denied Islam with his neglect? Does a person who does not offer prayers become a kafir (unbeliever)?
- What are the hadiths about prayer (salah)?
- "The sun rises between the two horns of the devil." What does this hadith mean?
- What is major and minor “Kufr” (unbelief)? Will you explain it by giving examples? How can we protect ourselves from all kinds of unbelief?
- How is the end of a person who has never performed daily prayers in his life; is he considered to have denied Islam with his neglect? Does a person who does not offer prayers become a kafir (unbeliever)?
- Can you inform us about the Importance of Prayer by considering these two Hadiths?
- The following is stated in verse 193 of the chapter of al-Baqara: "Fight with them until religion should be only for Allah." Does religion not belong to Allah anyway? What is meant in the verse?
- "Whoever can guarantee (the chastity of) what is between his two jaw-bones and what is between his two legs, I guarantee Paradise for him." Will you explain this hadith? Between two legs probably means private parts; what does between tow jaw-bones mean?
