The ruling on one who prays at some times and leaves off at others
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Q: A person prays but then stops repeatedly, and this is his state. What is your advice?
A: It is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman to fear Allah in all matters. The prayer is the pillar of Islam, and it is the greatest of the pillars of Islam, and the greatest of the obligatory duties after the two testimonies.
So it is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman to care for the prayer and preserve it in its times, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: : [al-Baqarah: 238] And He the Exalted said: [al-Baqarah: 43] And He the Exalted said: [al-Nur: 56].
So the prayer is the most important deed after the two testimonies. Whoever preserves it preserves his religion, and whoever neglects it is more neglectful of what is besides it. And whoever does it at one time and leaves it off at another is a disbeliever according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions, even if he does not deny its obligation. This is due to 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 Sunan with a sound chain, from Buraydah ibn al-Husayb (may Allah be pleased with him), and due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 82b reported by Muslim in his Sahih, and due to other hadiths that came in this chapter.
So it is obligatory for the Muslims, men and women, to beware of being negligent and lax with it. It is obligatory to preserve it in its time, to care for it, and to have tranquility and humility, so that it is performed as Allah commanded.
And the man must preserve it in congregation in the mosques of Allah with his Muslim brothers, and he must beware of imitating the hypocrites who do not perform it except for showing off, and do not perform it in congregation except for showing off. And when they are away from people, they become lax and leave it off. This is due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:142] مُذَبْذَبِينَ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ لا إِلَى هَؤُلاءِ وَلا إِلَى هَؤُلاءِ [al-Nisa: 142-143] They are not truly with the Muslims, and they are not truly with the disbelievers, but rather they are like this and like this, wavering because of their doubt and their suspicion, and their disbelief and their misguidance. He the Exalted says: [al-Nisa: 145] because of their disbelief and their hypocrisy, and their doubt, and their suspicion, and their concealing of disbelief. So it is obligatory to beware of their characteristics and their vile morals.
A: It is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman to fear Allah in all matters. The prayer is the pillar of Islam, and it is the greatest of the pillars of Islam, and the greatest of the obligatory duties after the two testimonies.
So it is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman to care for the prayer and preserve it in its times, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: :
Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer
حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاةِ الْوُسْطَىAnd establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَAnd establish prayer and give zakah and obey the Messenger - that you may receive mercy.
وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَSo the prayer is the most important deed after the two testimonies. Whoever preserves it preserves his religion, and whoever neglects it is more neglectful of what is besides it. And whoever does it at one time and leaves it off at another is a disbeliever according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions, even if he does not deny its obligation. This is due to 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 الصلاةSo it is obligatory for the Muslims, men and women, to beware of being negligent and lax with it. It is obligatory to preserve it in its time, to care for it, and to have tranquility and humility, so that it is performed as Allah commanded.
And the man must preserve it in congregation in the mosques of Allah with his Muslim brothers, and he must beware of imitating the hypocrites who do not perform it except for showing off, and do not perform it in congregation except for showing off. And when they are away from people, they become lax and leave it off. This is due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allah except a little,
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَى يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلا قَلِيلًا Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire - and never will you find for them a helper -
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَنْ تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.