Making up missed prayers for one who abandoned them

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, a questioner says: What is the stronger position held by the majority of scholars regarding making up missed prayers? I used to abandon some of the prayers, but now, praise be to Allah, I am consistent with them at their times, fulfilling their obligations and conditions. What is the ruling on making up what I missed?

Answer:
The authentic hadith is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: There is no expiation for it except that. He did not mention abandoning the prayer intentionally, but rather mentioned forgetting it or sleeping through it. And he makes it up. As for one who abandons it for a period while acknowledging its existence, he is a disbeliever by consensus. As for one who abandons it intentionally while acknowledging that it is obligatory and that it is a pillar of Islam, he is considered a sinner. He should repent to Allah and be consistent with the prayer.
As for making it up, making up the prayer was not mentioned in this hadith. As for the one who did not forget the prayer but rather abandoned it intentionally, he should repent to Allah the Exalted and be consistent with the prayers. Some scholars hold that it is obligatory for him to make up the prayers he abandoned intentionally, along with repentance to Allah the Exalted and being consistent with his prayer. There is no doubt that this is the safer course, if Allah wills. Yes.