That is the hypocrite’s prayer! He watches the sun until, when it is between Satan’s two horns, he gets up and pecks out four units of prayer, remembering Allah only a little during them.”

In this hadith, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, explained that the hypocrite’s prayer involves both delaying it beyond the time at which he is commanded to perform it and pecking through it, remembering Allah only a little. Likewise, they explained His words:

“Then they were succeeded by a generation who neglected prayer and followed their desires,”

as meaning that neglecting prayer consists in delaying it beyond its appointed time and neglecting its due requirements. It is related in a hadith:

“When a servant undertakes prayer with its proper purification, recitation and prostration—or words to that effect—it ascends with a radiance like that of the sun, saying to him: ‘May Allah preserve you as you have preserved me.’ But if he does not complete its purification, recitation and prostration—or words to that effect—it is rolled up like a garment and says to him: ‘May Allah neglect you as you have neglected me.’”

Salmān al-Fārisī said: “Prayer is a measure: whoever gives full measure will receive full measure, while whoever gives short measure—you know what He has said about those who give short measure.”

In Sunan Abī Dāwūd, ‘Ammār reports that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“A servant may finish his prayer with only half of it recorded for him, or a third, or a quarter, or a fifth, or a sixth, or a seventh, or an eighth, or a ninth, or a tenth.”

The scholars have differed, holding two opinions, as to whether someone overwhelmed by distracting thoughts during prayer must repeat it. However, the imams, such as Ahmad and others, hold that he need not repeat it. They cited as evidence what is reported in