Grand Ayatollah Shirazi remarks on neglecting Prayer during daily scholarly session
The daily scholarly meeting of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Sadiq al-Hosseini al-Shirazi was held on Thursday and Friday, 30th of Shawwal and 1st of Dhul Qa’dah. In these sessions, like the previous meetings, the Marja answered the questions of the attendees about various jurisprudential issues.
Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, referring to the famous hadith of Imam al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, [Our intercession does not include one who takes the Prayer lightly, i.e. Istikhfaf], said: “Istikhfaf” is an Arabic word that Imam al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, used to illustrate the concept for the general understanding of the faithful (Urf).
On the boundaries and examples of Istikhfaf towards prayer, his Eminence said: Imam al-Sadiq, peace be upon him, did not define the boundaries of Istikhfaf, and it is possible this concept has levels.
Regarding the effects of belittling Prayer, the Marja said: What is meant by Istikhfaf, which is the subject for its ruling, is that such a person will not be entitled for the intercession of the Ahl ul-Bayt, peace be upon them.
On the meaning of Istikhfaf in prayer, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi said: The meaning of Istikhfaf in prayer is definitively understood as that a person deliberately delays the Prayer in such a way that the time for prayer expires.
