The Criterion of a Salaat’s Acceptance

1. Hazrat Imaam Hasan Basri (Rahmatullahi alaih) is an Aalim and Durwaish (Buzrug) of outstanding calibre.
2. He saw the Sahaabah (Radhiyallahu anhum).
3. Haafiz Muhaddith Thahabi (Rahmatullahi alaih) wrote a kitaab on Imaam Hasan Basri’s biography.
4. Hazrat Hasan Basri (Radhiyallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said:
5. “A person who performed a Salaat which did not stop him from shameless deeds and sinful acts, then he has gained nothing from that Salaat besides becoming estranged from Allah Ta’ala.”
6. In other words, he will neither gain nearness to Allah Ta’ala nor thawaab for that Salaat.
7. In fact, he will drift further away from Allah.
8. This is a punishment for not appreciating such a precious Ibaadat and not fulfilling the Right of it.
9. From this we learn that the criterion and recognition of a Salaat being divinely accepted is that the one who offered the Salaat stays away from sins.
10. And if he commits a sin by chance then he immediately resorts to Taubah.

(Behshti Zewar)