Central Khutbah : “Protect Your Prayer from Hypocrisy”
When Allah, the Most High, describes the hypocrites in the Qur’an, He does not begin with their words, but with their prayer. This clearly shows that the true state of the heart is first manifested in the way prayer is performed.
Allah explains that the hypocrites rise for prayer lazily, seek to be seen by people, and remember Allah only a little. This passage does not refer to those who completely abandon prayer, but rather to those who pray while emptying the prayer of its meaning and sincerity.
This is precisely the reality highlighted by Ibn al-Qayyim when he explains that prayer may contain characteristics of practical hypocrisy. He mentions laziness when rising for prayer, praying for the sake of people, deliberately delaying the prayer, rushing through it without tranquillity, remembering Allah very little during prayer, and neglecting congregational prayer.
Laziness in rising for prayer is not merely physical fatigue. It reflects a heaviness of the heart and a lack of desire for the meeting with Allah. The Prophet ﷺ indicated that certain prayers are especially heavy for the hypocrites, because they are performed away from people’s eyes and without social recognition.
Praying in order to be seen by people is one of the most dangerous deviations in worship. When the goal becomes people’s gaze rather than the pleasure of Allah, prayer loses its spiritual value. The Prophet ﷺ warned against this subtle form of association (shirk), which he feared for his community more than anything else.
Deliberately delaying the prayer is also a revealing sign. The hypocrite does not deny the prayer, but postpones it until the end of its time, then performs it without presence of the heart. This attitude shows a superficial relationship with worship and a lack of respect for the times set by Allah.
Rushing through the prayer is another symptom. A prayer performed without calmness, without pauses, and without humility does not fulfil its educational and spiritual role. Such a prayer does not elevate the soul nor correct behavior.
The heart of prayer is the remembrance of Allah. When the tongue recites while the heart is absent, prayer becomes a sequence of empty movements. A prayer in which Allah is scarcely remembered can neither purify the heart nor sustainably guide the believer’s life.
Neglecting congregational prayer also reveals a weakening of religious responsibility. Collective prayer is not merely an organization, but a sign of commitment and belonging to the community. The firmness with which the Prophet ﷺ warned against abandoning it without valid excuse clearly shows the seriousness of this negligence.
One of the righteous predecessors said that he would enter the prayer as if it were his last prayer. He would stand calmly, fully aware of Allah’s presence. He did not lengthen the prayer to impress people, nor shorten it out of attachment to this worldly life. His prayer was balanced, composed, and sincere.
Such a prayer leaves a deep mark on the heart and is reflected in one’s behavior. A prayer tainted with hypocrisy, on the other hand, leaves no trace except on the prayer mat, never reaching the heart.
Therefore, protect your prayer from hypocrisy. For prayer is the first deed for which the servant will be questioned on the Day of Judgment. If it is sound, the rest will be sound as well. And if it is corrupted, the rest will be corrupted too.
(Central khutbah by the religious leader Hafiz Hilmija Redžić on December 19, 2025, at the “Association Islamique et Culturelle Al Rahma” in Differdange)
