The Book Of Prayer (Kitaab-ul-Salaat)

The Holy Qur'an warns those who abandon Prayer, in the following words: “ And after them
came the unworthy successors who squandered Prayer and pursued their own desires, so they
will soon encounter the forest of Gai in hell.” (Surah Maryam)
“ Gai” is a well in the lowest part of hell, in which accumulates the pus of its inhabitants. It is
also mentioned that “ Gai” is the hottest and deepest part of hell. This is the well which Allah
opens up whenever the heat of hell lessens, causing the fire of hell to rage again. This well is the
destination of those who abandon Prayer – and adulterers, drunkards, usurers and those who hurt
their parents.
The Holy Qur'an has mentioned a trait of the hypocrites, that they are lazy in offering Prayers,
and that they deem it to be a burden. It therefore states: “ Undoubtedly the hypocrites, in their
fancy, seek to deceive Allah whereas He will extinguish them while making them oblivious; and
when they stand up for Prayer, they do it unwillingly and for others to see, and they do not
remember Allah except a little.” (Surah Nisaa)
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said the following about the hypocrites:
“ The most burdensome Prayers for the hypocrites are the Night Prayer and the Dawn Prayer. If
they were to know the blessings they have in store, they would have come to them, even
slithering.” (Saheeh Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim)
The Holy Qur'an also explains that offering the Prayer is not at all a burden for those who
believe in Allah and the Last Day. It says: “ And seek help in patience and Prayer; and truly it is
hard except for those who prostrate before Me with sincerity - Who know that they have to meet
their Lord, and that it is to Him they are to return.” (Surah Baqarah)
We therefore know from the Holy Qur'an, and from the Hadith, that it is obligatory on all
Muslims to offer Prayers 5 times daily. To be lazy in Prayer, and especially not to offer the Night
and Dawn Prayers, are the traits of hypocrites. We also know that not offering Prayer is the way
of the disbelievers - this is why the Sahabah (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) did not deem
the abandonment of any deed as disbelief, except the abandonment of Prayer.
The importance of Prayer can be gauged from the fact that it has been emphasised right from
childhood. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said: “ Command your
children to pray when they become seven years old, and beat them for it (Prayer) when they
become ten years old; and arrange their beds (to sleep) separately.
The Sin Of Letting The Prayer Lapse.
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said: “ Whoever lets the Prayer lapse,
and then offers it after its due time, will burn in hell for not praying on time, for a period of one
"Haqab".”
One "Haqab" equals 80 years, and one year has 360 days, and the Day of Resurrection will equal
a thousand years. Which means that one who lets just one Prayer lapse, will burn in hell for a
period of 28,800,000 years! (May Allah protect us - Aameen).