He says in his long letter, the summary of which is that he criticizes scholars, or some scholars, for the Muslim who fasts but does not pray. So what is the connection between prayer and fasting? As for me,
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The questioner : He says in his long letter, the summary of which is that he criticizes scholars, or some scholars, for the Muslim who fasts but does not pray. So what is the connection between prayer and fasting? I want to fast so that I may enter with those who enter through the Gate of Rayyan. It is well known that from Ramadan to Ramadan, sins are expiated for what is between them. I ask for clarification through your program. May Allah guide you?
The Shaykh : Those who criticized you for fasting and not praying are correct in their criticism, because prayer is the pillar of Islam, and Islam does not stand except with it. The one who abandons it is a disbeliever who has exited the religion of Islam, and Allah does not accept from a disbeliever any fasting, charity, Hajj, or any other righteous deeds. This is based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:[At-Tawbah 9:54] Therefore, if you are fasting and not praying, we tell you: your fasting is invalid and not valid, it does not benefit you with Allah, and it does not bring you closer to Him.
As for what you assumed about Ramadan to Ramadan being an expiation for what is between them, we tell you: you have not known the hadith that was transmitted regarding this. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Mishkat al-Masabih 564 So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) conditioned the expiation from Ramadan to Ramadan on avoiding major sins. And you, O man who does not pray but fasts, have not avoided major sins. What greater major sin is there than abandoning prayer? Indeed, abandoning prayer is disbelief. How can fasting expiate for you the abandonment of prayer, when it is not accepted from you because you are a disbeliever, may Allah protect us? So you must, O my brother, repent to your Lord and perform what Allah has made obligatory upon you, which is your prayer, and then after that, fast.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : For this reason, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Mu'adh to Yemen, he said: So he began with prayer, then followed with zakah after mentioning the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Yes.
The questioner : This letter reached us from the listener from Jeddah, M M S.
The Shaykh : Those who criticized you for fasting and not praying are correct in their criticism, because prayer is the pillar of Islam, and Islam does not stand except with it. The one who abandons it is a disbeliever who has exited the religion of Islam, and Allah does not accept from a disbeliever any fasting, charity, Hajj, or any other righteous deeds. This is based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And what prevents their expenditures from being accepted from them but that they have disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger and that they come not to prayer except while they are lazy and that they do not spend except while they are unwilling.
وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَنْ تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَاتُهُمْ إِلَّا أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ وَلا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلاةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَى وَلا يُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَAs for what you assumed about Ramadan to Ramadan being an expiation for what is between them, we tell you: you have not known the hadith that was transmitted regarding this. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The five [daily] prayers, Friday to Friday and Ramadan to Ramadan make atonement for what has happened since the previous one when major sins have been avoided.
الصلوات الخمس، والجمعة إلى الجمعة، ورمضان إلى رمضان، مكفرات لما بينهن ما اجتنبت الكبائرThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : For this reason, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Mu'adh to Yemen, he said:
Let the first thing you call them to be the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. If they respond to that, then inform them that Allah has made obligatory upon them five prayers in every day and night.
ليكن أول ما تدعوهم إليه شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمداً رسول الله، فإن هم أجابوك لذلك فأعلمهم أن الله افترض عليهم خمس صلوات في كل يوم وليلةThe questioner : This letter reached us from the listener from Jeddah, M M S.