The Meaning of Ibn al-Qayyim’s Statement That One Who Neglects Khushu’ Will Be Reckoned
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
This questioner says: I read in the book al-Wabil al-Sayyib by Ibn al-Qayyim about khushu’ (humility) in prayer. It states that people in prayer are on five levels, one of which is the one who is unjust to himself, meaning the one who did not perfect his wudu’ (ablution), sujud (prostration), or ruku’ (bowing); this person is punished. As for the one who maintains the times, limits, pillars, and wudu’ of the prayer, but neglects khushu’ and follows the whispers of waswas (suspicion), this person is reckoned. So I ask you, Honorable Shaykh, to clarify for us: does “reckoned” mean that he is not punished and does not enter the Fire because of neglecting khushu’?
Answer:
If he is reckoned, he is punished, based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 6536 If the reckoning is a reckoning of interrogation, then its owner is tormented. But if it is a reckoning of mere review, then this does not torment. [Al-Inshiqaq 84:7-9]
This questioner says: I read in the book al-Wabil al-Sayyib by Ibn al-Qayyim about khushu’ (humility) in prayer. It states that people in prayer are on five levels, one of which is the one who is unjust to himself, meaning the one who did not perfect his wudu’ (ablution), sujud (prostration), or ruku’ (bowing); this person is punished. As for the one who maintains the times, limits, pillars, and wudu’ of the prayer, but neglects khushu’ and follows the whispers of waswas (suspicion), this person is reckoned. So I ask you, Honorable Shaykh, to clarify for us: does “reckoned” mean that he is not punished and does not enter the Fire because of neglecting khushu’?
Answer:
If he is reckoned, he is punished, based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him):
Anybody whose account (record) is questioned will surely be punished.
من نوقش الحساب عذب(7) Then as for he who is given his record in his right hand, (8) He will be judged with an easy account (9) And return to his people in happiness.
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا وَيَنقَلِبُ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ مَسْرُورًا
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 6391- معنى قول ابن القيم فيمن ضيع الخشوع أنه محاسب - الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.