Whoever abandons three Fridays out of negligence, Allah seals his heart

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) warned against abandoning the Friday prayer, pointing out that whoever abandons the Friday prayer three times out of slackness and negligence without a valid excuse, Allah seals and covers his heart by preventing goodness from reaching it.

Lessons

• Ibn al-Mundhir reported scholarly consensus that the Friday prayer is an individual obligation.
• A warning to whoever abandons the Friday prayer out of slackness that Allah will seal his heart.
• The warning does not include anyone who abandons the Friday prayer for a valid excuse.
• Ash-Shawkāni said: Regarding his statement (three Fridays), it could mean neglecting the Friday prayer in any form, whether consecutively or intermittently, even if one skipped one Friday each year. After the third, Allah Almighty would seal his heart, as indicated by the apparent meaning of the Hadīth. It may also refer to three consecutive Fridays.