Question:
Assalamualaikum, ustaz. I have a question. If we left prayers then we replace them, will the sin be forgiven or not? Hope for an explanation from SS Mufti. Thank you.
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
We start this with the words of Allah SWT:
إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا
Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
Surah al-Nisaa’ (103)
This verse is one of the dalil on the obligation of prayer upon Muslims as a whole. Prayer becomes a zimmah (obligation) upon the Muslims until they perform it unless there are excuses permitted by syara’ which lift the obligation or lessen it. So, whoever leaves it due to permissible excuses like forgetting or falling asleep, he should replace it directly when he realizes or wakes up. This is in accordance with a saying of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH narrated by Anas bin Malik RA:
مَنْ نَسِيَ صَلاَةً فَلْيُصَلِّهَا إِذَا ذَكَرَهَا لاَ كَفَّارَةَ لَهَا إِلاَّ ذَلِكَ
He who forgets the prayer should say it when he remembers it, there is no explanation for it, except this.
Sahih al-Bukhari (597) and Sahih Muslim (684)
While for those who abandon prayers intentionally in which he dissents its obligation, he becomes a kafir and has deviated from Islam. While for those who leave prayer because he was lazy or delay it, they are sinful and they should qadha’ (replace) it again.
[See: al-Fiqh al-Manhaji; 1/103-104]
Matters pertaining to the ruling of qadha’ for a person leaving prayer intentionally have been discussed in detail in our article entitled: Tahqiq al-Masa’il Series-1 The Ruling of Qadha’ for a Person Who Leaves It Intentionally. In that article, we have decided the tarjih on the opinion that it is wajib to qadha’ for those who leave prayer intentionally.
Coming back to the question asked pertaining whether the sins of leaving prayers will be forgiven or erased upon replacement, as we know, the action of leaving obligatory prayers intentionally is among the great sins. [See: Tafsir al-Qurtubi; 5/160]. So, great sins will not be forgiven or lifted merely through replacement of the obligatory prayer, but should be followed by tawbah (repentance) to Allah SWT. Conversely, obligatory prayers may only lift the minor sins as mentioned in the hadith of the Prophet PBUH:
الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ وَالْجُمُعَةُ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ وَرَمَضَانُ إِلَى رَمَضَانَ مُكَفِّرَاتٌ مَا بَيْنَهُنَّ إِذَا اجْتَنَبَ الْكَبَائِرَ
The five (daily) prayers and from one Friday prayer to the (next) Friday prayer, and from Ramadhan to Ramadhan are expiations for the (sins) committed in between (their intervals) provided one shuns the major sins.
Sahih Muslim (233)
Imam Ibn Rajab stated in his book that some scholars said that verily prayers erase both minor and great sins, but the jumhur said that prayer will not be erased merely due to another prayer, but should be followed with tawbah (repentance). [See: Fath al-Bari; 4/221].
This matter is strengthened by the saying of Allah SWT:
إِن تَجْتَنِبُوا كَبَائِرَ مَا تُنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ نُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَنُدْخِلْكُم مُّدْخَلًا كَرِيمًا
If you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden, We will remove from you your lesser sins and admit you to a noble entrance [into Paradise].
Surah al-Nisaa’ (31)
Imam Ibn Kathir said in his tafsir book that if a person stays away from major sins (the prohibited), Allah SWT will erase his minor sins and put him in Paradise. [See: Tafsir Ibn Kathir; 2/271]. It is clear here that staying away from major sins or through the mafhum mukhalafah (not leaving prayer), so it may erase the minor sins.
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taimiyah said:
"والذين أمروه بالقضاء من العلماء لا يقولون إنه بمجرد القضاء يسقط عنه الإثم ، بل يقولون بالقضاء يخف عنه الإثم ، وأما إثم التفويت وتأخير الصلاة عن وقتها فهو كسائر الذنوب التي تحتاج إما إلى توبة وإما إلى حسنات ماحية ، وإما غير ذلك مما يسقط به العقاب"
“The scholars did not say that a mere qadha’ will erase the sins, but they said it may reduce the sins. However, the sins of delaying or leaving the prayer is the same as sins which need tawbah, any great kindness or anything that will lift the punishment.”
{See: Minhaj al-Sunnah; 5/233]
Then, the next discussion is on tawbah towards Allah SWT and its methods which has already been presented and discussed in our article entitled, Irsyad al-Fatwa Series-251: Tawbah Repeatedly.
Closing
In conclusion, we state that the sin of leaving prayer will not be erased merely by replacing it. It is best to be followed by tawbah, return to Allah SWT by abstaining oneself from it, regret those sinful acts done as well as having strong determination to not repeat it. Lastly, may Allah give us understanding in religion, give us ease and honesty in understanding it, firms our faith and bless all our actions.
Wallahu a’lam.