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An Act of the Disbelievers and Hypocrites
Stealing will always remain a shameful and sinful act, an act of the hypocrites and the disbelievers, an act which is prohibited in the sight of Allaah (ﷻ).
Hence it is surprising, shocking and saddening to see many Muslims engage in this sinful act. Not just the act of stealing itself but the worst of it. Subhan’Allaah!
I know some of us may want to ask; what is worst than using a weapon to forcefully take someone’s belonging? But the worst of theft had been taught to us, by the best of mankind. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
إِنَّ أَسْرَقَ النَّاسِ مَنْ سَرَقَ صَلاتَهُ
“Verily, the worst thieves among people are those who steal from their prayers.”
It was said: “O Messenger of Allaah, how do they steal from their prayers?”
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
لا يُتِمُّ رُكُوعَهَا وَلا سُجُودَهَا وَأَبْخَلُ النَّاسِ مَنْ بَخِلَ بِالسَّلامِ
“They do not complete its bowing (ruku’) or its prostration (sajdah) [with full devotion and concentration].”
[Al-Muʻjam al-Awsaṭ 3503. Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani]
Many of us fall into this category of not bowing or prostrating properly. Some bow and prostrate even before the Imaam does as if it’s some sort of racing competition.
In a Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
أَمَا يَخْشَى أَحَدُكُمْ إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ قَبْلَ الإِمَامِ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ رَأْسَهُ رَأْسَ حِمَارٍ أَوْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ صُورَتَهُ صُورَةَ حِمَارٍ
“Isn’t he who raises his head before the Imam afraid that Allah may transform his head into that of a donkey or his figure (face) into that of a donkey?”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari 691]
Brothers and sisters! We have been commanded (in Sūrat Al-Baqarah 2:238) to guard strictly and to maintain with proper care, the obligatory prayers and to stand devoutly obedient before Allaah (ﷻ)
Yet many of us perform our prayers that is not the way Allaah has commanded, also stealing from the prayers and also not performing them at the appropriate time.
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Stealing from the prayers is an act of the disbelievers as Allaah’s Messenger narrates in a ahadeeth reported by Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) that:
“. . . No thief who steals is a believer as long as he commits theft, . . .”
[Sahih Muslim 57]
Also, we should remember the first deed that will be accounted for on the Day of Judgement is the obligatory prayers, as reported in a ahadeeth by Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) said:
“The first of man’s deeds for which he will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection will be Salaat. If it is found to be perfect, he will be safe and successful; but if it is incomplete, he will be unfortunate and a loser, . . .”
[At- Tirmidhi, Riyad us Saliheen Book 9, Hadith 91]
What if you and I appear before Allaah with incomplete Salaat? What explanation will you give? And what will you do at that very moment?
Ask yourselves these questions and reflect upon yourselves. Remember: The wise man is one who holds himself accountable for his deeds before he is held accountable.
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May Allaah (ﷻ) guide us through the straight path and preserve us upon goodness and grant us mercy.
آمِيْن يَارَبَّ الْعَالَمِينْ
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🕋 ISLAM GENERATION DA’WAH GROUP
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