The Ruling on One Who Prays Sometimes and Leaves the Prayer Sometimes

Question:
What is the ruling on one who prays sometimes and leaves the prayer sometimes? Guide us and guide the people. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
Prayer is the greatest pillar of Islam after the two testimonies, and it is the pillar of Islam. A great deal of noble verses has been revealed regarding it. As Allah the Exalted said: [al-Baqarah: 43], and He said: [al-Baqarah: 238], and He said: [al-Nur: 56], and He said: [al-'Ankabut: 45], among other noble verses, such as His saying: [Maryam: 59].
So whoever leaves it out of negligence, that is evidence of the corruption of his religion and the corruption of his creed, and that he has nothing to do with Islam. Even if he claims to acknowledge its obligation, as long as he does not maintain it, but rather leaves it at times and prays it at others, or leaves it entirely, then he is a disbeliever according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions, until he repents to Allah and maintains it.
The evidence for this is what is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: It was narrated by Imam Muslim in his Sahih. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say: "If he denies its obligation." He is the most eloquent of people and the most sincere of people (peace and blessings be upon him). If denying the obligation had been a condition, he would have clarified it, for he is the one who conveys from Allah, and he is the one who guides to the truth (peace and blessings be upon him).
And despite this, he says: , and the woman is like the man in this regard. Therefore, in another hadith, it says: It was narrated by Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa'i, and Ibn Majah with a sound chain from Buraydah ibn al-Husayb (may Allah be pleased with him) . This is general, encompassing men and women, and encompassing one who denies the obligation or one who acknowledges it. What benefit is there in his acknowledging the obligation if he does not pray? What does this acknowledgment benefit him if he has neglected it and abandoned it and been characterized by the traits of those who turn away from it? Therefore, he (peace and blessings be upon him) says: .
So it is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman to care for the prayer, maintain it, and be upright in it at all times; out of fear of Allah, magnification of Him, seeking His pleasure, and caution against His punishment (Glorified and Exalted is He) , and to distance oneself from imitating the polytheists who leave it.
And the man must maintain the five prayers in the houses of Allah with his Muslim brothers, and not pray in his house, because praying in the house involves imitating the people of hypocrisy. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: meaning that they would come to them in the mosques.
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
And that is only because of the greatness of the danger; and because of the greatness of the crime of leaving the prayer with the congregation in the mosques of Allah. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is a severe warning. It was said to Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): What is the excuse? He said: Fear or illness. And a blind man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: He said: Yes. He said: It was narrated by Muslim in his Sahih. In another narration narrated by Muslim, he (peace and blessings be upon him) says: .
So if the blind man has no dispensation, what is the case of the seeing, healthy man? The matter is great.
And it is obligatory for men to fear Allah and to attend the prayer with the Muslims in the mosques of Allah, for it is a great ritual that he establishes with his brothers in the houses of Allah. He gathers with his brothers and sees them, and cooperates with the poor one, and encourages the lazy one. For if this one prays in the mosque and that one prays in the mosque, people are encouraged, and they cooperate in good and perform this great obligation in the houses of Allah. And if this one is lazy and that one is lazy, others follow them, from sons, brothers, servants, and others. So he will have upon him like their sins because of their following his example; for he has called them by his action to leave this obligation in the mosques.
So it is obligatory for every Muslim to fear Allah, to watch over Allah, and to pray in the mosque with the Muslims. Even if he is a merchant, and even if he is a ruler, the greatness of Allah is above everyone.
So it is obligatory for every person among the believers to fear Allah and to watch over Allah, and to perform this prayer in the houses of Allah with his brothers, and to look after his children and servants so that they pray with him in the mosques. This is how the Muslim fears Allah, advises with the fear of Allah, and obliges those under his authority to fear Allah.
And so the woman cares for this, and prays the prayer at its time, and cares for her daughters, maids, and sisters. She looks after them and obliges them with what Allah has made obligatory upon them of prayer at its time; because of the greatness of its status and because it is the pillar of Islam.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that whoever leaves it has disbelieved, even if he acknowledges the obligation. This is the correct opinion upon which a group of the well-known Imams of hadith are in agreement. And the noble Tabi'i Abdullah ibn Shaqiq al-'Iqili mentioned from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) , saying: They did not consider anything left as disbelief from the deeds except prayer. And this is because of the greatness of its status. So we ask Allah for guidance and success for us and for our Muslim brothers.