Strict Orders for Observance of Obligatory Salat
Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I asked the Messenger of Allah ( صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ):
"Which act is the best?" He ( صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) said,
"As-Salat at their fixed times." I asked, "What next?" He ( صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) said, "Being dutiful to parents." I asked, "What next?" He ( صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) said, "Striving (Jihad) in the way of Allah."
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary:
This Hadith has already been mentioned. Here it is repeated to indicate that every Salat should be performed at its proper time.
Deliberate delay in performing is wrong. The ultimate result of deliberate delay is that one becomes sluggish and begins to ignore and neglect it by force of habit, which is obviously very dangerous.
Imam Ash-Shafi'i is of the opinion that if a person shows such laziness in offering Salat that he misses its proper time, then he is liable to make penitence for it. If he does not do so, he should be killed.
193/1074 - Riyad Us-Saliheen
(Gardens of the Righteous)
