❖ Is Delaying Prayer Without Excuse a Sin? ❖
Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
Question:
Is it sinful to delay prayer without a valid excuse?
Answer:
It is obligatory to perform prayer within its prescribed time. Delaying it without a Sharʿi excuse is not permissible, and condemnation has been mentioned regarding it.
❀ Allah ﷻ says:
﴿فَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُصَلِّينَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ﴾
“So woe to those who pray, but are heedless of their prayer.”
(Al-Māʿūn: 4–5)
❀ Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله (d. 728H) said:
تأخيرها عن وقتها من السهو عنها باتفاق العلماء.
“Delaying prayer from its proper time is considered neglect of prayer, by consensus of the scholars.”
(Al-Fatāwā al-Kubrā: 2/17)
Prayer is a fundamental pillar of Islam. Various acts of preparation such as ablution, facing the Qiblah, etc. have been legislated to emphasize its importance. Delaying it without excuse is a sign of weakness in faith.
Conclusion:Delaying prayer without a valid excuse is sinful, condemned in the Qur’an, and regarded by the scholars as negligence in worship.
