Sharh Riyad as-Saliheen by Ibn Uthaymeen — Volume 2 (شرح رياض الصالحين) — Page 22

Line-by-line translation · المعاني

شَرْحُ رِيَاضِ الصَّالِحِينَ مِنْ كَلَامِ سَيِّدِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

(from previous page) ⟵ It was narrated by Al-Bukhari in the Book of Faith, Chapter: Part of Faith is to love for your brother what you love for yourself, number (13), and by Muslim in the Book of Faith, Chapter: The evidence that among the characteristics of faith is to love for your Muslim brother what you love for yourself of good, number (72). This is from the explanation of Riyad al-Salihin from the words of the Master of Messengers, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him.

بَاطِلَةٌ مَرْدُودَةٌ عَلَيْهِ، لَا تُقْبَلُ مِنْهُ، وَلَكِنَّ الْجُمْهُورَ هُوَ عَلَى أَنَّهَا تَصِحُّ مَعَ الْإِثْمِ، وَهَذَا هُوَ الصَّحِيحُ، فَمَنْ تَرَكَ صَلَاةَ الْجَمَاعَةِ بِلَا عُذْرٍ؛ فَصَلَاتُهُ صَحِيحَةٌ وَلَكِنَّهُ آثِمٌ، وَهَذَا هُوَ الْقَوْلُ الرَّاجِحُ وَهُوَ الْمَشْهُورُ مِنْ مَذْهَبِ الْإِمَامِ أَحْمَدَ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ) وَهُوَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ جُمْهُورُ مَنْ قَالُوا بِوُجُوبِ صَلَاةِ الْجَمَاعَةِ.

Such an act is invalid and rejected, and it is not accepted from him. However, the majority view is that the prayer remains valid despite the sin, and this is the correct position. Whoever misses the congregational prayer without a valid excuse has performed a valid prayer, yet he is sinful. This is the preferred opinion and the well-known stance within the school of Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, as well as the position held by most scholars who maintain that congregational prayer is obligatory.

وَمِنْ إِقَامَةِ الصَّلَاةِ: الْخُشُوعُ فِيهَا، وَالْخُشُوعُ هُوَ حُضُورُ الْقَلْبِ وَتَأَمُّلُهُ بِمَا يَقُولُهُ الْمُصَلِّي وَمَا يَفْعَلُهُ، وَهُوَ أَمْرٌ مُهِمٌّ؛ لِأَنَّ الصَّلَاةَ بِلَا خُشُوعٍ كَالْجَسَدِ بِلَا رُوحٍ، فَأَنْتَ إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ وَقَلْبُكَ يَدُورُ فِي كُلِّ وَادٍ فَإِنَّكَ تُصَلِّي حَرَكَاتٍ بَدَنِيَّةً فَقَطْ، فَإِذَا كَانَ قَلْبُكَ حَاضِرًا تَشْعُرُ كَأَنَّكَ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، تُنَاجِيهِ بِكَلَامِهِ، وَتَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَيْهِ بِذِكْرِهِ وَدُعَائِهِ، فَهَذَا هُوَ لُبُّ الصَّلَاةِ وَرُوحُهَا.

Establishing prayer requires khushu—a focused heart that contemplates every word and action. This is vital, for prayer without such presence is like a body without a soul. If you pray while your mind wanders aimlessly, you are merely going through physical motions. When your heart is present, however, you feel as though you are standing before Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, whispering to Him through His words and drawing near to Him through His remembrance and supplication. This is the very essence and spirit of prayer.

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Vocabulary · المفردات (17 verbs · 62 nouns)

• قَبِلَ — to accept
• صَحَّ — to be valid
• تَرَكَ — to leave
• بَاطِل — void
• مَرْدُود — rejected
• جُمْهُور — majority