Repentance of the one who abandons prayer
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Fatwa number ( 3404 )
Q: Five years have passed, O our noble Shaykh, during which I was in disobedience, for Satan humiliated me and whispered to me before my Lord guided me to His straight path. I should mention that during this long period, I did not pray or fast; rather, I committed all the things Allah has forbidden us, even during the months of Ramadan, such as intoxicants, women, and the like. But Allah guides whom He wills and admits whom He wills into His mercy. I repented this year, two weeks before the arrival of the month of Ramadan, and I have resolved to
make up these five months, but how? I do not know; because the matter is greater than expiation and feeding the poor. This is what I want you, may Allah reward you, to explain to me and interpret for me fully: of what kind is the making up of these months? Given what I was doing previously, and if I am required to make them up, how do I make them up? By fasting five consecutive months along with feeding the poor, or one month after another? And how many poor people must I feed? This is the issue in which I found difficulty, so I hope to find light that clarifies for me the path I should follow toward Allah until the Day they are resurrected. So may Allah reward us with the best reward.
A: The correct opinion among the scholars is that abandoning prayer intentionally is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that takes one out of the religion, and that the one who abandons it, if he repents, is not required to make up what he left of it, nor to make up what he broke of Ramadan during his abandonment of it, nor is he required to perform expiation for the sins he committed during his abandonment of it. Rather, he must be sincere in his repentance to Allah, the Exalted, who says:[Taha 20:82] and says: [Al-Furqan 25:68]
[Al-Furqan 25:68-70] And the reality of repentance is that one feels remorse for the sin he committed, that he severs it completely, and that he resolves sincerely not to return to it, and that he discharges the rights of creation. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: Five years have passed, O our noble Shaykh, during which I was in disobedience, for Satan humiliated me and whispered to me before my Lord guided me to His straight path. I should mention that during this long period, I did not pray or fast; rather, I committed all the things Allah has forbidden us, even during the months of Ramadan, such as intoxicants, women, and the like. But Allah guides whom He wills and admits whom He wills into His mercy. I repented this year, two weeks before the arrival of the month of Ramadan, and I have resolved to
make up these five months, but how? I do not know; because the matter is greater than expiation and feeding the poor. This is what I want you, may Allah reward you, to explain to me and interpret for me fully: of what kind is the making up of these months? Given what I was doing previously, and if I am required to make them up, how do I make them up? By fasting five consecutive months along with feeding the poor, or one month after another? And how many poor people must I feed? This is the issue in which I found difficulty, so I hope to find light that clarifies for me the path I should follow toward Allah until the Day they are resurrected. So may Allah reward us with the best reward.
A: The correct opinion among the scholars is that abandoning prayer intentionally is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that takes one out of the religion, and that the one who abandons it, if he repents, is not required to make up what he left of it, nor to make up what he broke of Ramadan during his abandonment of it, nor is he required to perform expiation for the sins he committed during his abandonment of it. Rather, he must be sincere in his repentance to Allah, the Exalted, who says:
But indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance.
وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِمَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَىAnd those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty.
وَالَّذِينَ لاَ يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ وَلاَ يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلا بِالْحَقِّ وَلاَ يَزْنُونَ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ يَلْقَa penalty. (69) Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated - (70) Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
أَثَامًا (68) يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَانًا (69) إِلا مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلا صَالِحًا فَأُولَئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.