Did he not pray until he reached the age of twenty-four, so does he have to make up the missed prayers?
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Q: The questioner: E. A. M. A. from Qena, the Arab Republic of Egypt, says: I did not pray until I reached the age of twenty-four, and now I am praying another prayer with every obligatory prayer. Is that permissible for me? Should I continue doing this, or do I have other obligations? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
A: The one who intentionally leaves off the prayer does not have to make it up, according to the correct opinion. Rather, he must repent to Allah the Mighty and Majestic, because the prayer is the pillar of Islam, and leaving it off is one of the greatest crimes. In fact, intentionally leaving it off is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions. This is based on what is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam) It was narrated by Imam Ahmad and the people of the Sunan with a sound chain, from Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him). And based on his statement (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 82b It was narrated by Imam Muslim in his Sahih, from Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both). There are other hadiths in this chapter that indicate this.
So what is obligatory for you, my brother, is repentance to Allah—sincere repentance—and that is by feeling regret for what has passed from you, ceasing the leaving off of the prayer, and making a sincere resolve not to return to it. You do not have to make up the missed prayers—neither with every prayer nor otherwise—rather, you only have to repent. Praise be to Allah, whoever repents, Allah accepts his repentance. Allah the Exalted says: [An-Nur: 31]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 4250Da’if (Darussalam).
So you must be sincere in your repentance, hold yourself to account, strive to maintain the prayer at its appointed times in congregation, seek Allah's forgiveness for what has happened from you, and increase in righteous deeds. Be glad of good news; Allah the Exalted says:[Ta-Ha: 82] And when He mentioned shirk (associating partners with Allah), killing, and zina (unlawful sexual intercourse) in Surat al-Furqan, He said after that, (Exalted and Majestic is He): His punishment will be doubled on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in humiliation.Except for one who repents, believes, and does righteous work; then those, Allah will replace their evil deeds with good ones, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.[Al-Furqan: 68-70].
We ask Allah for you and for us success, sincerity in repentance, and steadfastness upon good.
A: The one who intentionally leaves off the prayer does not have to make it up, according to the correct opinion. Rather, he must repent to Allah the Mighty and Majestic, because the prayer is the pillar of Islam, and leaving it off is one of the greatest crimes. In fact, intentionally leaving it off is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions. This is based on what is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
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 الصلاةSo what is obligatory for you, my brother, is repentance to Allah—sincere repentance—and that is by feeling regret for what has passed from you, ceasing the leaving off of the prayer, and making a sincere resolve not to return to it. You do not have to make up the missed prayers—neither with every prayer nor otherwise—rather, you only have to repent. Praise be to Allah, whoever repents, Allah accepts his repentance. Allah the Exalted says:
And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.
وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَThe one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin.
التائب من الذنب كمن لا ذنب لهSo you must be sincere in your repentance, hold yourself to account, strive to maintain the prayer at its appointed times in congregation, seek Allah's forgiveness for what has happened from you, and increase in righteous deeds. Be glad of good news; Allah the Exalted 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 whoever does that will meet a great sin.
وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا We ask Allah for you and for us success, sincerity in repentance, and steadfastness upon good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.