that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The covenant between us and them is the Salat, so whoever abandons it he has committed disbelief."
The Book on Faith - Jami' at-Tirmidhi
Hadith Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2621
Text of the Hadith
"The covenant between us and them is the Salat, so whoever abandons it he has committed disbelief."
Meaning and Significance
This noble hadith establishes prayer (Salat) as the fundamental distinction between believers and disbelievers. The term "covenant" ('ahd) refers to the binding agreement that distinguishes the Muslim community from others.
The phrase "between us and them" signifies the demarcation between the people of faith and those outside the fold of Islam. Salat serves as the visible manifestation of this covenant.
Scholarly Interpretation
The scholars have differed regarding the meaning of "disbelief" (kufr) in this context. Some authorities hold that it refers to major disbelief that takes one out of the fold of Islam, while others interpret it as a lesser form of disbelief that does not constitute apostasy.
Imam Ahmad and Ishaq ibn Rahawayh maintained that abandoning prayer constitutes major kufr, based on the apparent meaning of this and similar texts. Other scholars, including Abu Hanifah, Malik, and al-Shafi'i, held that it constitutes a major sin but not disbelief that expels one from Islam.
Legal Implications
Regardless of the scholarly differences, all agree that willful abandonment of prayer without valid excuse is among the gravest of sins. The one who abandons prayer is subject to severe warning and must be counseled to repent.
The consensus of the Muslim community affirms the obligatory nature of the five daily prayers and considers their denial as clear disbelief.
Spiritual Dimensions
Salat represents the connection between the servant and Allah. Its abandonment signifies the severing of this divine connection. The prayer is the pillar of Islam, and when it is established, the rest of religion stands firm.
This hadith emphasizes the centrality of prayer in Islamic practice and identity, serving as the practical manifestation of faith and the criterion by which Muslim commitment is measured.