Sins that Prevent the Acceptance of the Salah

Allah is the guardian and defender of the dignity, respect and rights of all human beings and so when we harm or hurt another person, we offend and anger Allah. So long as the one whom we have harmed is unhappy with us, Allah is also unhappy with us. The Holy Prophet warns us that if a believer turns to Allah in worship after having wronged another person, Allah may deprive him of His love and reward until he is forgiven by the one he wronged:

‘Allah, the most High, revealed to me saying, “O brother of the Prophets and the warners, warn your people not to enter any of My places of worship after having wronged another servant who holds it against him, for surely I curse him as long as he stands to pray before Me, until he makes amends for the wrong [he has done].”’

According to the following ahadith, some of the specific sins which diminish the value of our Salah include backbiting, disregarding the rights of the poor and needy, and disrespecting one’s parents:

‘Allah does not accept a single prayer from one who looks at
his parents with hatred, even if they oppress him.’
(Imam al-Sadiq (A))

‘The prayer of those who are indifferent to the barefooted
and displaced people in society, is not accepted.’
(Imam al-Sadiq (A))

‘Whoever backbites about a Muslim man or woman, Allah, the most
High, neither accepts his prayer nor his fasting for forty days until
his victim has forgiven him.’
(The Holy Prophet)

‘The one who does not pay the Zakat is not
considered as having prayed.’
(Imam al-Sadiq (A))

Let’s realise that if we do not fulfil our duties to our parents, the poor and anyone else who has rights over us, our worship may not attract Allah’s pleasure and proximity. As soon as we seek forgiveness and make amends, however, His mercy and love may again encompass us as we pray.