What is the interpretation of the Hadith: "Five prayers Allah Almighty has enjoined. Whoever performs their ablution well, prays them at their appointed times, and perfectly performs their bowing and submissiveness, will have a covenant with Allah that He will forgive him. And whoever does not do so, will not have a covenant with Allah; if He wills, He may forgive him, and if He wills, He may punish him"? And what is the meaning of the covenant mentioned in it? Does it include the Hadith: "If he stands and prays, praising Allah, extolling Him, and glorifying Him as He deserves, and empties his heart for Allah, he will surely depart from his sin as he was on the day his mother gave birth to him"—from one who committed major sins but did not disbelieve?
"Whoever performs ablution well, and perfects his bowing, humility, and prayer at its appointed time, has a covenant with Allah that He will forgive him." That is, there is a guarantee from Allah for that. Perfecting bowing is achieved by tranquility in it, and humility by fear and presence of heart. As for whoever does not do that, he has no covenant with Allah, and his affair is left to the will of Allah; if He wills, He may forgive him out of grace, and if He wills, He may punish him out of justice. This hadith does not indicate the disbelief of one who abandons prayer, but rather that his matter is subject to Allah's will.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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