How does one make up the prayers he left off for several years?
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Q: The brother: M. B- from Damascus in Syria says in his question: Is performing the Fajr, Zuhr, 'Asr, Maghrib, and 'Isha' prayers sufficient to make up for missed prayers, given that I did not pray for several years, or is it obligatory for a person to make up these obligatory prayers from which Satan distracted him? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good.
A: Whoever deliberately leaves off the obligatory prayer out of laziness and negligence has committed a great crime, greater than zina, theft, and other major sins. By doing so, he commits major disbelief (kufr) according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam), narrated by Imam Ahmad and the people of the four Sunan collections with a sound chain, from Buraydah ibn al-Husayb (may Allah be pleased with him) , and his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 82b, narrated by Imam Muslim in his Sahih, from Jabir ibn 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both), and other hadiths to this effect.
If one leaves off the prayer out of denial of its obligation, he commits major disbelief by the consensus of the Muslims. It is obligatory for one who leaves it off out of denial of its obligation, or out of laziness and negligence, to hasten to repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) from that. This is done by feeling regret for what has passed, and having a sincere resolve not to return to leaving it off, while maintaining the prayer out of fear of Allah, reverence for Him, and fulfillment of His right. Whoever repents with sincere repentance, Allah will accept his repentance. This is based on His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He): [al-Nur: 31], and His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He): [al-Tahrim: 8], and His saying (peace and blessings be upon him) : [Ta-Ha: 82], and the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 4250Da’if (Darussalam). He does not have to make up the prayers he left off, because sincere repentance is sufficient for that.
We ask Allah to preserve the religion of the Muslims and to guide their strays to the truth. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the Responsive.
A: Whoever deliberately leaves off the obligatory prayer out of laziness and negligence has committed a great crime, greater than zina, theft, and other major sins. By doing so, he commits major disbelief (kufr) according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
The covenant that distinguishes between us and them is prayer; so whoever leaves it, he has committed Kufr.
العهد الذي بيننا وبينهم الصلاة فمن تركها فقد كفرBetween man and polytheism and unbelief is the abandonment of salat.
بين الرجل وبين الشرك والكفر ترك الصلاةIf one leaves off the prayer out of denial of its obligation, he commits major disbelief by the consensus of the Muslims. It is obligatory for one who leaves it off out of denial of its obligation, or out of laziness and negligence, to hasten to repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) from that. This is done by feeling regret for what has passed, and having a sincere resolve not to return to leaving it off, while maintaining the prayer out of fear of Allah, reverence for Him, and fulfillment of His right. Whoever repents with sincere repentance, Allah will accept his repentance. This is based on His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He):
And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.
وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَO you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحًاBut 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 اهْتَدَىThe one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin.
التائب من الذنب كمن لا ذنب لهWe ask Allah to preserve the religion of the Muslims and to guide their strays to the truth. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the Responsive.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.