Leaving Off Asr Doesn’t Necessitate Disbelief

Benefit:

It was narrated on the authority of Abu Al-Malee who said: We were with Buraida in a battle on a cloudy day and he said, “Offer the Asr prayer early as the Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever leaves the Asr prayer, all his (good) deeds will be annulled.”

What is the meaning of “his deeds will be annulled.”? And does ones deeds being annulled necessitate disbelief?

We previously discussed that the nullification of ones deeds does not always necessitate disbelief. And here are some of the evidences that point to this position that the nullification of ones deeds does not necessitate disbelief or the abrogation of ones Emaan (faith).

For example, raising ones voice over the voice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Does it mean the one that does this exits from the fold of Islam? No. Allah the Most-High says:

{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَرْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِيِّ وَلَا تَجْهَرُوا لَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ أَن تَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالُكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ}

That which translates as:

“O you who have believed, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet or be loud to him in speech like the loudness of some of you to others, lest your deeds become nullified while you perceive not.”[Hujarat:2]

Allah calls them believers.

{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَغُضُّونَ أَصْوَاتَهُمْ عِندَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ امْتَحَنَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ لِلتَّقْوَى لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ}

That which translates as:

“Indeed, those who lower their voices before the Messenger of Allah – they are the ones whose hearts Allah has tested for righteousness. For them is forgiveness and great reward.”[Hujarat:3]

This does not mean that the one that raises his voice over the Prophet ﷺ has disbelieved. If that was the case Allah would have revealed a verse stating the nullification of their faith, but rather He confirmed their faith and confirm only the nullification of their deeds. And also, the statement of Allah the Most-High:

{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَلَا تُبْطِلُوا أَعْمَالَكُمْ}

That which translates as:

“O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and do not invalidate your deeds.”[Muhammad:33]

Some say, this either means with one’s minor sins or major sins. Don’t invalidate your good deeds with minor or major sins. Meaning that some sins can invalidate some of one’s good deeds because of the greatness of the sins. But if one was to repent to Allah his good deeds would be restored to him.

And likewise the statement of Allah the Most-High:

{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تُبْطِلُواْ صَدَقَاتِكُم بِالْمَنِّ وَالأذَى}

Which translates as:

“O you who have believed, do not invalidate your charities with reminders or injury.” [Baqarah:264]

And this invalidation is specific (to one’s sadaqah) not general (to all his deeds).

Also it came in the hadith of Umar in Sahih Bukhari explaining the meaning of this verse when a wealthy man that obeyed Allah (was tested to see if he was truthful in his obedience to Allah) Allah sent to him a Shaitan, so he proceeded to do evil until his deeds were nullified. Meaning his sins increased until they nullified his good deeds. And this is from the meanings of nullifying ones deeds.

Likewise, sometimes the one that fasts receives nothing from his fasting except hunger and thirst¹. Similarly the one that stands in prayer, sometimes here receives nothing but tiredness.²

All of these clarify that the nullification of ones deeds does not necessitate disbelief. And that some of the sins and offenses whether major or minor can wipe away ones good deeds as a punishment for the magnitude of the sins.

As it comes in the hadith of Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him) in Sahih Muslim that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) stated that a person said: Allah would not forgive such and such (person). Thereupon Allah the Exalted and Glorious, said: “Who is he who adjures about Me that I would not grant pardon to so and so; I have granted pardon to so and so and nullified his deeds (who took an oath that I would not grant pardon to him).”

So does this mean that this person has become a disbeliever? No. Likewise, these number of proofs clarify this meaning. So this hadith, “Whoever leaves the `Asr prayer, all his (good) deeds will be annulled” is judged on what is apparent, that his deeds have been nullified but this doesn’t necessitate that he has become a disbeliever. And to strengthen this meaning, the one that leaves off the Fajr or Dhuhr prayer on purpose, does he share in this ruling as well? Certainly, the wording for this offense mentioned Asr only. If we say the ruling is the same for all the prayers then we lose the benefit of this hadith that specified just the Asr prayer.

And Allah knows best.

FOOTNOTES:

1. On the authority of Abu Huraira:
   The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)”Bukhari,
   Book of Fasting: Hadith 13
2. On the authority of Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “There are people who fast and get nothing from their fast except hunger, and there are those who pray and get nothing from their prayer but a sleepless night.” Ibn Majah Hadith 1690

Benefited from: Shaikh Abu Abdillah Muhammad Ba Jamaal (May Allah preserve him)

Translated by: Abu Yusuf Bilal ibn Howard Robinson

Source: https://t.me/OfficialChannelShaykhBaajammaal/128