Who are neglectful of their prayers

Mustafa Hamimo
One of the best things a fasting person can do in this holy month is contemplating the Book of God, according to the Almighty’s saying: “Do they not contemplate the Qur’an? Or are there seals upon their hearts?” Thus, I used to stop and still stop at the Almighty’s saying, “Those who turn away from their prayer and are heedless,” wondering who they really are, when God has threatened them with woe, that is, with destruction. Of course, it is not about those who are negligent in prayer. That oversight is excused, as God Almighty says: “Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.” And whoever does, God will not threaten them with woe, that is, with destruction. However, most of the interpretations are less comprehensive, and explain this oversight regarding prayer in the Noble Verse by depriving its performance of its time. Since God has threatened the worshipers who neglected it with woe, that is, with destruction, I wonder, saying, Are not what is meant by them also a type of those who perform it at its proper time? Isn’t what is meant by that prayer, the subject of forgetfulness, the supplication, since the meaning of prayer in language is the prière supplication? Who are they, I wonder, given that they never miss their prayer time?
The entire established prayer is a supplication when standing, bowing, and prostrating. That is why God called it prayer. The core of the supplication in every rak’ah is contained in Surah Al-Fatihah, which is not permissible to pray without reciting it aloud or secretly. The worshipers say in every rak’ah, “Guide us to the straight path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed blessings, not of those upon whom you have been angry, nor of those who have gone astray.” The request to obtain this guidance is not, of course, while performing prayer, but rather after leaving it and entering daily life among people. Worshipers ask for it in their lives among people between each prayer and the next. This is in accordance with the requirements of the straight path.
Thus, I wonder: Aren’t the worshipers who are negligent about their prayers in the Noble Verse the same as those who do not deviate from the time of prayer or abandon it, but are negligent in their daily lives about their prayers in it, meaning their supplications in it by saying in every rak’ah, “Guide us to the straight path….” This is because people see it as they follow exactly the opposite. Do they follow the paths of those who are angry and misguided by oppressing their servants according to the requirements of their whims and desires, and sometimes with pride in sin? Aren’t those the ones who are authenticated by the Almighty’s saying, “Have you seen him who takes his own desires as his god, and God has led him astray upon knowledge…”, even though they do not take the prayer out of its appointed times? Aren’t they the ones who thus deserved from God to make them aware of woe?
Otherwise, is it not the duty of the worshipers who are sincere in their supplication seeking guidance to the straight path in every prayer, to strive for it after completing every prayer in their living reality among the people, so that God may accept their supplication and increase them in guidance after they have been guided, as God Almighty said: Their piety ? Otherwise, how can God guide them to the guidance they asked for in every prayer when, in their living reality, they follow the paths of those who are angry with them and those who go astray by oppressing His servants according to the requirements of their whims and desires?
In addition to those who take prayer out of its appointed times, as stated in all the interpretations, this is still the reading that my heart is reassured by in the Almighty’s saying: “Those who neglect their prayer.” Because those who take prayer out of its time do not dissent, as God Almighty said: “Those who dissipate.” Rather, as mentioned above, those who see the reality of life are those who follow the paths of those upon whom the wrath is incurred and who go astray by casting their shadow over the servants after performing the prayer, even at its appointed time. And God Almighty said: “And this is My path, straight, so follow it. And do not follow other paths, lest they separate you from His path. This He has enjoined upon you that you may become righteous.” ﴾.
So God Almighty threatened woe to those who violated that command on the Day of Resurrection, even if they came to Him with their prayers, fasting, and zakat, and they paid them in form and appearance in the best way. God is free of it and of all the worlds. It will not benefit them in their worldly life among people. Consider this in the noble hadith in which he, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, said: “The bankrupt of my nation is the one who comes on the Day of Resurrection with prayer, fasting, and zakat, and he comes and has insulted this one, slandered this one, consumed this one’s money, shed this one’s blood, and beaten this one, and he will be given this one of his good deeds, and this Of his good deeds, if his good deeds are exhausted before he fulfills what he owes, then he will take some of their sins and they will be cast upon him, then he will be cast into the Fire.”
So we ask God in this holy month and at every time and moment for guidance to His straight path, along with His success in finding guidance to Him after every prayer, recalling our supplications, i.e. our prayers, in it by saying, “Guide us to the straight path….” Let us not be unjust or transgress against anyone’s sanctities, so that we will not be among the worshipers who neglect their prayers, that is, their supplications, and we seek refuge in God from the woe with which He threatens them. Amen.