What happens if we leave Salaat-II

A person died in the era of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him).  When the people assembled to offer his funeral Salaat, they noticed his shroud moving.  On inquiry they found a snake coiled around his neck, biting and eating his flesh.  People around there decided to kill it, but all of sudden it said: Why do you want to kill me?  What is my fault?  I’ve been commanded by Allah Ta’ala to torture him untill the doomsday.  When asked what sin he had committed to deserve this, the snake replied:  This man was involved in three kinds of sins:

 

(1)  After hearing the Adhaan, he would not go to Masjid for congregational Salaat.

 

(2)  He didn’t give Zakaat.

 

(3)  He did not pay any attention to the advice of the Ulema, the scholars of Islam.

 

Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) says: The first thing to be checked on the Day of Judgement is Salaat.  If that is deemed to be complete in all respects Allah Ta’ala will accept it and the rest of the good deeds of that person will also be accepted, regardless of their condition.  If the Salaat itself is found to be lacking, then along with other good deeds, it will be thrown in the face of that worshipper. 

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) also said: The person who makes his (or her) Taharah nicely and offers Salaat in time and performs the articles of Salaat, the standing, the Ruku and the Sajdah with complete calmness and while offering Salaat has humility in his heart, then that Salaat will go in a radiant and illuminating form to the ‘Arsh and says: May Allah Ta'ala keep you in His protection since you offered me perfectly.

 

For the person who doesn’t offer Salaat on time and performs the articles of Salaat haphazardly, that Salaat goes to the heavens in a dark and sinister form and says: May Allah devastate you, as you devastated me.  Later, that Salaat is wrung like an old rag and thrown on that person’s face. 

 

The apparent deeds of Salaat are like the body of the Salaat and it has a Haqiqah (reality) as well which is like its soul.  If the soul is absent, the Salaat is a lifeless body like a corpse.  The soul of Salaat is sincerity, submissiveness and complete attentiveness during Salaat, because the actual purpose of Salaat is remembrance of Allah Ta’ala with respect and propriety.

 

As stated by Allah Ta'ala: For My remembrance, offer Salaat.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) says: Many are there who don't derive anything except hardship and physical agony from Salaat as they offer Salaat through with their body and their hearts remain heedless.  He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) also said: Many are there for whom only the sixth or tenth part of the actual reward of Salaat is written and their Salaat is also worth the attentiveness in Salaat that much perfect, as much their attentiveness of heart is.

Excerpted from Mawaaiz Hasana, Vol.1 No. 1 by Muhaddith E Deccan, Hadhrat Syed Abdullah Shah Sahab (May Allah Ta'ala shower His mercy upon him