applicable to one who denies its obligation just as it is to one who abandons it. Whatever answer they give concerning the former also serves as an answer to them concerning the latter. Moreover, the texts connect disbelief with turning away, as explained above. This resembles their appeal to the general statements invoked by the Murji’ah, such as his saying:
“Whoever testifies that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and that Jesus is Allah’s servant and Messenger, His word which He conveyed to Mary, and a spirit from Him … Allah will admit him to Paradise.”
They invoke other similar texts as well. The strongest evidence they rely upon is the saying of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:
“Allah has prescribed five prayers for His servants each day and night. Whoever observes them faithfully has a covenant with Allah that He will admit him to Paradise. Whoever does not observe them faithfully has no covenant with Allah: if He wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He will admit him to Paradise.”
They say: “He thus leaves the one who does not observe them faithfully subject to Allah’s will, whereas a disbeliever is not subject to His will.”
Yet this provides no evidence for their position. The promise is conditional upon observing the prayers faithfully, which means performing them at their appointed times as commanded. As the Most High says:
“Observe the prayers faithfully, especially the middle prayer.”
Failure to observe them faithfully can occur even when they are performed, if they are performed after their appointed time. Thus, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, delayed the afternoon prayer on the Day of the Trench, whereupon Allah revealed the verse commanding faithful observance of that prayer and the other prayers.
The Most High also says:
“But they were succeeded by generations who neglected prayer and followed their desires; they will meet with doom.”
Ibn Mas‘ūd and others were asked, “What does neglecting prayer mean?” He replied, “Delaying it beyond its appointed time.” They said, “We thought it meant nothing other than abandoning it.” He replied, “Had they abandoned it, they would have been disbelievers.”
Likewise, His words:
“So woe to those who pray, yet are heedless of their prayer.”