Allah Almighty described the prayers of the hypocrites. How was it described?
ذم الله في كتابه صلاة المنافقين. ما هي تلك الصلاة المذمومة؟
The prayers of hypocrite have three qualities:
لصلاة المنافقين ثلاث صفات:
Characteristics of the Hypocrites' Prayer | صفات صلاة المنافقين
1. Laziness in Intention
Laziness while intending to perform Salat. True believers approach prayer with eagerness, whereas the hypocrite views it merely as a heavy physical and social burden.
1. الكسل عند القيام
كسل المصلي حين قيامه لها. (المؤمن يقبل على الصلاة بشوق، بينما يراها المنافق عبئاً ثقيلاً).
2. Hasty Recitation and Lack of Remembrance
Mentioning Allah rarely and reciting Fatihah hastily to finish Salat quickly. They perform the physical motions without any inner tranquility or connection.
2. العجلة وقلة الذكر
ذكره لله فيها قليل ربما اختصرعلى الفاتحة و صلاها سريعا. (يؤدون الحركات الجسدية بلا طمأنينة أو خشوع).
3. Deliberately Delaying the Prayer
Delaying performing Salat after its prescribed time, because of his laziness. It was reported in a Noble Hadith that Allah's Messenger, peace be upon him, said: "This is how a hypocrite prays: he sits watching the sun, and when it becomes yellow and is between the horns of the devil, he rises and prays four rak'as quickly, mentioning God seldom during them." [Narrated by Muslim]
3. تأخير الصلاة عن وقتها
يؤخر الصلاة عن وقتها. و هو من كسله عنها. و قد جاء في الحديث "تلك صلاة المنافقين يجلس يرقب الشمس (أي وقت غروبها ) قام فنقرها أربع نقرات لا يذكر الله فيها إلا قليلا". رواه مسلم
4. The Quranic Warning in Surah An-Nisa’a
(Surely the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but He outwits them. When they stand up for prayer, they do it half-heartedly only to be seen by people, hardly remembering Allah at all.) An-Nisa’a 4:142
4. التحذير القرآني في سورة النساء
( إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّـهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّـهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ) النساء: ١٤٢
5. The Quranic Warning in Surah At-Taubah
(And what prevented their donations from being accepted is that they have lost faith in Allah and His Messenger, they never come to prayer except half-heartedly, and they never donate except resentfully.) At-Taubah 9:54
5. التحذير القرآني في سورة التوبة
( وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَن تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَاتُهُمْ إِلَّا أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّـهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلَاةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَىٰ وَلَا يُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَ ) التوبة: ٥٤
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What are the main characteristics of a hypocrite's prayer?
The prayers of a hypocrite are primarily characterized by laziness, rushing through the recitation, delaying the prayer until its prescribed time is almost over, and rarely mentioning or remembering Allah during it.
How did the Prophet describe the way a hypocrite performs the afternoon prayer?
According to an authentic Hadith, a hypocrite delays their prayer by sitting and watching the sun until it becomes yellow and is about to set. Then, they rise and quickly pray four units (rak'as) in a hasty, pecking manner, mentioning Allah very little.
Why are the prayers and charitable donations of the hypocrites rejected?
As stated in Surah At-Taubah, their deeds are rejected because they have fundamentally lost faith in Allah and His Messenger. Consequently, they only perform their prayers half-heartedly and give donations resentfully, lacking true sincerity.