Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (may
Allaah have mercy on him) said:
…This also applies to lack of
humility in Salaah and the presence of heart in front of Allaah while
performing it, which is the spirit and essence of the prayer. A prayer without
humility or presence of heart is like a dead body that is bereft of soul. Would
a servant not be shy to offer a dead slave boy or slave girl to the Creator?
What does this servant think will happen if such gift is intended for a king, a
leader or similar individual?
Likewise is the prayer that is
devoid of humility, presence of heart and devotion to Allaah the most High, it
is similar to this dead slave that he intended to offer as a present to some
kings. For this reason, Allaah will not accept it from him and if he misses an obligation
from the rulings of the world, he will not be rewarded for it.
Hence, a person will not gain
anything from his prayer except what he comprehends from it as recorded in the
Sunan and Musnad Imaam Ahmad that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)
said: “A servant may offer a prayer and
nothing will be written for him except half of it, or one third of it or one
fourth of it or one fifth of it until it reaches one tenth of it.”[1]
Source: Al-Waabil as-Sayyib min
al-Kalim at-Tayyib, p. 23 by Imaam Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah; transl. by
Abdus-Samee’ Abdus-Salaam.
