What are the causes of laxity in the Sunnahs, and what is the remedy?
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The questioner : May Allah guide you, O honorable Shaykh. A Muslim person, generally among the youth, observes laxity in matters of religion, such as the rawatib (regular voluntary prayers) and other things, which angers the heart of every Muslim. In your view, O honorable Shaykh, what are the causes of this laxity, and what is the solution? May Allah guide you.
The Shaykh : The causes of this laxity are desire and Satan. Allah Mighty and Majestic said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:91] So Satan discourages the children of Adam from all acts of obedience, especially prayer. This is countered by the strength of faith in Allah Mighty and Majestic and the desire for what is with Him. Because if a person knows that a good deed is stored for him on the Day he will be most in need of it, with no wealth or children, and no intercession except by the permission of Allah Mighty and Majestic, he will strive. And if he reflects that he must inevitably meet Allah Mighty and Majestic, as the Exalted said: [Al-Inshiqaq 84:6] We will all meet Allah Mighty and Majestic, and He will speak to us. So if he believes in this, he will prepare for it.
Then there are also causes for this negligence, which are the many temptations in the media and other than the media, which have caused hearts to become hard, may Allah protect us from that. So a person should strive for what benefits him, seek help from Allah Mighty and Majestic, and not be lazy. He should ask Allah for steadfastness. And if Satan stirs him up by discouraging him from an obligatory duty or encouraging him to do something forbidden, let him seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-A'raf 7:200] Yes, on the right.
The questioner : Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah.
The Shaykh : May Allah send blessings and peace upon him.
The questioner : O honorable Shaykh, I bear witness to Allah of my love for you and for those present here, and my question is:
The Shaykh : May Allah love you and reward you with good. Yes.
The Shaykh : The causes of this laxity are desire and Satan. Allah Mighty and Majestic said:
Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer
إنما يريد الشيطان أن يوقع بينكم العداوة والبغضاء في الخمر والميسر ويصدكم عن ذكر الله وعن الصلاةO mankind, indeed you are laboring toward your Lord with [great] exertion and will meet it.
يا أيها الإنسان إنك كادح إلى ربك كدحا فملاقيهThen there are also causes for this negligence, which are the many temptations in the media and other than the media, which have caused hearts to become hard, may Allah protect us from that. So a person should strive for what benefits him, seek help from Allah Mighty and Majestic, and not be lazy. He should ask Allah for steadfastness. And if Satan stirs him up by discouraging him from an obligatory duty or encouraging him to do something forbidden, let him seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan. Allah the Exalted said:
And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah
وإما ينزغنك من الشيطان نزغ فاستعذ باللهThe questioner : Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah.
The Shaykh : May Allah send blessings and peace upon him.
The questioner : O honorable Shaykh, I bear witness to Allah of my love for you and for those present here, and my question is:
The Shaykh : May Allah love you and reward you with good. Yes.