Hadith Text & Reference

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "Whoever misses the Asr prayer, then it is as if he was robbed of his family and his property." (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 175)

Meaning & Significance

This profound analogy conveys the severity and spiritual catastrophe of intentionally neglecting the Asr prayer. Just as a person considers the loss of family and wealth to be among the greatest calamities, so too is the spiritual loss from missing this obligatory prayer.

The Asr prayer holds particular importance in Islam as the "Middle Prayer" (Salah al-Wusta) mentioned in the Quran, making its deliberate abandonment a grave matter that severs one's connection with Allah.

Scholarly Commentary

Imam al-Tirmidhi classified this hadith as hasan sahih (good and authentic). Scholars explain that the comparison emphasizes the magnitude of loss - just as one would be devastated by losing their most precious worldly possessions, the spiritual loss from missing Asr is even greater in the sight of Allah.

The warning applies particularly to those who neglect the prayer out of laziness or disregard, not those who genuinely forget or are overcome by sleep. The timing of Asr (late afternoon) makes it vulnerable to negligence as people are often preoccupied with worldly activities.

Legal Ruling & Application

The consensus of scholars is that intentionally missing any obligatory prayer without valid excuse is a major sin. One must make up missed prayers as soon as possible and sincerely repent.

This hadith serves as a powerful reminder to guard all prayers, especially Asr, and to prioritize our spiritual obligations over worldly engagements, ensuring we never experience this profound spiritual deprivation.