A person who has distanced from spirituality [1] and their mind and heart are confined to the prison of materialism[2], will not see any necessity in helping the poor[3]; let alone feel the need to pray[4]. In contrast, for someone who believes in God and does righteous acts and yet still decides to abandon prayer, we can assume that there must be a particular reason for this choice.
There is a variety of reasons for why people don’t pray. But since the Quran insists on establishing the prayer[5] and thoroughly explains the intentions for this in respective verses[6], it answers and provides a solution for all excuses used against prayer. As an example:
Some argue based on the greatness of God, and say that He does not need our prayer, nor does He gain pleasure from it.
It’s important to understand that, as reminded by the Quran, we are the ones who need God[7], as He is the everlasting bountiful reality Who calls us out of compassion[8], to benefit more from His mercy, and grow as we increase in gratitude and self-knowledge[9].
Others believe that worship is nothing but being in the service of God’s creation. Instead of expressing a few sentences and performing gestures, they believe that the best way to show gratitude for God’s blessings, is to make the best use of them and help the needy.
Although the Quran condemns a prayer which lacks charity and beneficence[10], it still considers prayer as incredibly crucial for the believers. This is because God knows the human nature very well[11] and is aware of our psychological limitations[12] and the pitfalls on our path[13]. Therefore, prayer is necessary to aid us[14] in remaining far from indecency[15] and to recognise the deviations which would have otherwise been seen as good[16].
Another group claim that they are always mindful of God and prefer to show gratitude using their own methods and ways.
However, in addition to the constant remembrance of God[17], committing to a consistent timely plan[18] is considered very important by the Quran and by criticising trivial and meaningless prayers[19], implicitly shows that by failing to abide to secure frameworks, one can end up with an undesirable fate.
Moreover, another argument that people use to justify not praying, is the lack of accountability of those who pray and the ugly acts they commit in the name of religion to (supposedly) promote prayer puts people off.
Yet, other people’s abuse of such a precious and sanctified religious act, is not a good enough justification to deprive oneself of prayer. And the Quran while condemning such unpleasant religiosities[20], also reminds the excuse-makers that the bad behaviours of others does not stop them from being good[21].
Next: By which method should we pray?
Previous: Prayer, from another angle
Islamic Library: Introduction to Islam
[1] . Quran 53: 29:
مَن تَوَلّىٰ عَن ذِكرِنا وَلَم يُرِد إِلَّا الحَياةَ الدُّنيا
One who has turned away from Our remembrance and desires nothing but the life of this world.
[2] . Quran 53: 30:
ذٰلِكَ مَبلَغُهُم مِنَ العِلمِ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعلَمُ بِمَنِ اهتَدىٰ
That is their utmost extent of knowledge and cognition. Indeed, it is your Lord Who knows best those who have gone astray from His path, and He knows best those who have received guidance.
[3] . Quran 74: 44:
وَلَم نَكُ نُطعِمُ المِسكينَ
Nor we used to feed the poor.
[4] . Quran 74: 43:
قالوا لَم نَكُ مِنَ المُصَلّينَ
They will say: “We were not of those who used to offer the prayers.”
[5] . Quran 6: 72:
وَأَن أَقيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَاتَّقوهُ وَهُوَ الَّذي إِلَيهِ تُحشَرونَ
And that establish prayer and be in awe of Him, and it is He Whom you shall be returned and gathered to.
[6] . Quran 6: 38:
ما فَرَّطنا فِي الكِتابِ مِن شَيءٍ
We have not neglected anything in the book.
[7] . Quran 35: 15:
يا أَيُّهَا النّاسُ أَنتُمُ الفُقَراءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الغَنِيُّ الحَميدُ
O people! You are the needy unto Allah and Allah alone is He Who is the Self-Sufficient, the Praised.
[8] . Quran 14: 10:
يَدعوكُم لِيَغفِرَ لَكُم مِن ذُنوبِكُم وَيُؤَخِّرَكُم إِلىٰ أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى
He calls you to forgive for you your sins and respite you till an appointed term.
[9] . Quran 27: 40:
وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّما يَشكُرُ لِنَفسِهِ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبّي غَنِيٌّ كَريمٌ
And whoever is grateful, verily he is grateful for his own soul, and whoever covers the truth, then verily my Lord is Self-Sufficient, Bounteous.
[10] . Quran 107: 4-7:
فَوَيلٌ لِلمُصَلّينَ الَّذينَ هُم عَن صَلاتِهِم ساهونَ الَّذينَ هُم يُراءونَ وَيَمنَعونَ الماعونَ
So, woe to those praying ones, who are careless of their prayers, those who show off (want to be seen by others) and refuse to supply the needs of others.
[11] . Quran 50: 16:
وَلَقَد خَلَقنَا الإِنسانَ وَنَعلَمُ ما تُوَسوِسُ بِهِ نَفسُهُ وَنَحنُ أَقرَبُ إِلَيهِ مِن حَبلِ الوَريدِ
And verily We have created man, and We know what his own self whispers to him. And we are closer unto him than his jugular vein.
[12] . Quran 70: 19-21:
إِنَّ الإِنسانَ خُلِقَ هَلوعًا إِذا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ جَزوعًا وَإِذا مَسَّهُ الخَيرُ مَنوعًا
Verily, man was created impatient and avaricious, irritable when bad reaches him, and impeding towards others when good reaches him.
[13] . Quran 12: 18:
قالَ بَل سَوَّلَت لَكُم أَنفُسُكُم أَمرًا
He said: “No your guilty selves have made this matter seem good to you”.
[14] . Quran 2: 45:
وَاستَعينوا بِالصَّبرِ وَالصَّلاةِ وَإِنَّها لَكَبيرَةٌ إِلّا عَلَى الخاشِعينَ
And seek help through patience and prayer; and most surely this is a hard thing for other than the humble.
[15] . Quran 29: 45:
إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ تَنهىٰ عَنِ الفَحشاءِ وَالمُنكَرِ
Verily prayer keeps away from indecency and evil.
[16] . Quran 18: 104:
الَّذينَ ضَلَّ سَعيُهُم فِي الحَياةِ الدُّنيا وَهُم يَحسَبونَ أَنَّهُم يُحسِنونَ صُنعًا
Those whose effort is lost in this world’s life, while they think that they are working good deeds.
[17] . Quran 3: 191:
الَّذينَ ضَلَّ سَعيُهُم فِي الحَياةِ الدُّنيا وَهُم يَحسَبونَ أَنَّهُم يُحسِنونَ صُنعًا
Those who remember Allah whilst standing, sitting, and lying on their sides.
[18] . Quran 4: 103:
إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ كانَت عَلَى المُؤمِنينَ كِتابًا مَوقوتًا
Verily the prayer has been enjoined upon the believers at fixed times.
[19] . Quran 8: 35:
وَما كانَ صَلاتُهُم عِندَ البَيتِ إِلّا مُكاءً وَتَصدِيَةً
And their prayer at that house is nothing but whistling and clapping.
[20] . Quran 2: 93:
قُل بِئسَما يَأمُرُكُم بِهِ إيمانُكُم إِن كُنتُم مُؤمِنينَ
Say: “if you are faithful then what your faith orders you to is indeed very bad.”
[21] . Quran 34: 32:
قالَ الَّذينَ استَكبَروا لِلَّذينَ استُضعِفوا أَنَحنُ صَدَدناكُم عَنِ الهُدىٰ بَعدَ إِذ جاءَكُم بَل كُنتُم مُجرِمينَ
Those who had shown pride and arrogance shall say unto those who were of lower status (subaltern) and abiding: “Did we turn you away from the guidance after it had come to you? Nay! You yourselves were guilty!”