A hadith and its indication problem within the context of relationship between faith and deeds

Abstract

The hadith on the importance of salah, namely, "Whoever performs five daily prayers (salah) is guaranteed heaven by Allah. Whoever does not fulfil it, however, shall have no guarantee in the presence of Allah; Allah, at His will, may torment him or put him in His Heaven," has been considered by numerous scholars as evidence that a person who abandons salah partially or completely with no reasonable excuse may still be forgiven by Allah. The followers of this approach construe the phrase " whoever does not fulfil it" as "whoever does not perform five daily prayers." Nevertheless, the indication "whoever performs five daily prayers" in the initial section of the hadith is reinforced by expressions such as "without missing any rule," "without undervaluing it," and "paying attention to its time, bows (ruku.), and prostration (sujud)" in various narratives of the same hadith. Given this fact, the phrase "whoever does not fulfil it" in the second part of the hadith may be pointing at the essentials of salah and not at salah itself. In addition, the latter approach is supported by the general attitude of Islam about forgiving sins, conveniences with regard to the performance of salah, as well as various Qur an verses and hadiths that concretely outline the punishment for abandoning salah. In light of the foregoing, it seems inappropriate to consider the abovementioned hadith as evidence with regard to the relationship between faith and deeds, and particularly "punishment of abandoning salah;" rather, the hadith may concern the complete fulfillment of the essentials of salah.