"Whoever misses 'Asr prayer, it is as if he has been robbed of his family and wealth."'Irak said: 'And 'Abdullah bin 'Umar informed me that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: 'Whosoever misses 'Asr prayer, it is as if he has been robbed of his family and wealth.'"Yazid bin Abi Habib contradicted him. [1][1] That is, contradicted Ja'far bin Rabi'ah who narrated it from 'Irik here - and Yazid's narration is next.
The Book of Salah - Sunan an-Nasa'i 478
"Whoever misses 'Asr prayer, it is as if he has been robbed of his family and wealth." 'Irak said: 'And 'Abdullah bin 'Umar informed me that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: 'Whosoever misses 'Asr prayer, it is as if he has been robbed of his family and wealth.'" Yazid bin Abi Habib contradicted him.
Commentary on the Hadith
This profound narration from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) emphasizes the immense spiritual significance of the 'Asr prayer. The comparison to losing one's family and wealth serves as a powerful metaphor for the catastrophic spiritual loss incurred by neglecting this obligatory prayer.
The 'Asr prayer holds particular importance in Islamic tradition, being mentioned specifically in the Qur'an (2:238) and described as the "middle prayer." Scholars explain that just as worldly possessions and family provide security and comfort in this life, the regular performance of prayers, especially 'Asr, provides spiritual security and comfort for the believer's eternal life.
The severe warning in this hadith indicates that deliberate abandonment of this prayer without valid excuse constitutes a major sin. The spiritual deprivation is likened to the most devastating worldly loss a person can experience.
Juridical Implications
Classical scholars derived from this hadith that the 'Asr prayer has a special status among the five daily prayers. Many emphasized the importance of praying it in its preferred time and warned against delaying it unnecessarily.
The contradiction mentioned in the chain of narration (Yazid bin Abi Habib's differing report) is addressed by scholars of hadith science as a matter of transmission verification, but does not affect the core meaning which is established through multiple authentic chains.
Spiritual Dimensions
The metaphor of losing family and wealth teaches that the spiritual loss from missing prayers is more devastating than material loss. While worldly possessions can be regained, missed prayers represent lost opportunities for divine connection that can never be recovered.
This narration serves as a powerful reminder to prioritize one's spiritual obligations over worldly engagements, understanding that true success lies in maintaining the connection with the Creator through prescribed acts of worship.