Why Punish Muslims Who Don’t Pray or Fast

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Question:

Why would Allah punish Muslims who don’t pray or fast but are otherwise good people? - An examination of Islamic rulings about Muslims who don’t perform rituals but are otherwise moral and peaceful. :::

Answer:

Hadith

Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Between a man and shirk and kufr there stands his neglect of the prayer.” (Narrated by Muslim in Kitaab al-Eemaan from Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)).

In light of the above hadith Please read the discussion on whether this kufr of abandoning prayer is major which leads to apostacy or not on the link below:

The Ruling on the one who abandons Prayer – Shaykh al-Albaani

Quran

Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have given up As-Salât (the prayers) [i.e. made their Salât (prayers) to be lost, either by not offering them or by not offering them perfectly or by not offering them in their proper fixed times, etc.] and have followed lusts. So they will be thrown in Hell. (Maryam 19:59)

Except those who repent and believe (in the Oneness of Allâh and His Messenger Muhammad SAW), and work righteousness. Such will enter Paradise and they will not be wronged in aught. (Maryam 19:60)

Allah Says (interpretation of the meaning): “O you who believe! When you intend to offer As-Salah (the prayer), wash your faces and your hands (forearms) up to the elbows, rub (by passing wet hands over) your heads, and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. If you are in a state of Janaba (i.e. after a sexual discharge), purify yourselves (bathe your whole body). But if you are ill or on a journey, or any of you comes after answering the call of nature, or you have been in contact with women (i.e. sexual intercourse), and you find no water, then perform Tayammum (dry ablution) with clean earth and rub therewith your faces and hands. Allah does not want to place you in difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and to complete His favour to you that you may be thankful” [5:6]

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And He gave you of all that you asked for, and if you count the blessings of Allah, never will you be able to count them. Verily, man is indeed an extreme wrongdoer, a disbeliever (an extreme ingrate who denies Allah’s blessings by disbelief, and by worshipping others besides Allah, and by disobeying Allah and His Prophet Muhammad” [14:34]

“And if you would count the favours of Allah, never could you be able to count them. Truly, Allah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful” [16:18]

It was narrated from Mu’aadh ibn Jabal that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) took his hand and said: “O Mu’aadh, by Allah I love you, by Allah I love you.” Then he said, “I advise you, O Mu’aadh, do not fail following every prayer to say: O Allah help me to remember You, thank You and worship You properly.” Narrated by Abu Dawood and al-Nasaa’i .

Prophet’s (peace be upon him) Conduct

Lastly please read below which sums up everything perfectly.

It was narrated that ‘Aishah said: When the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) prayed, he would stand for so long that his feet became swollen. ‘Aishah said: O Messenger of Allah, are you doing this when Allah has forgiven your past and future sins? He said: “O ‘Aishah, should I not be a thankful slave?” Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Please note that the above is related to non-obligatory prayer as there was no concept of abandoning the obligatory prayer among the prophet’s (peace be upon him) companions.

So to summarize:

It is command of Allah and if we really believe in Allah then we should obey his commands Prayer is a means of showing gratitude to Allah Prophet peace be upon him and the righteous companions never abandoned prayer even in extreme difficulties and situations If we show gratitude to Allah and obey his commands then only we deserve to hope for his mercy Sin of abandoning the obligatory duties may by far outweigh any good that you may do