The Difference Between One Who Abandons Prayer and One Who Abandons Fasting

Question:
The first message in this episode is from listener (S. F.), our brother. We addressed some of his questions in a previous episode, and he has one remaining question in this episode. He asks: Why is a person who does not pray considered outside the fold of Islam? And if he repents, why is he not required to make up the prayers he missed? And why is he required to make up his fast if he repents? I inform you that I was not praying before. Please advise us on these matters. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance. As for what follows:
It should be known that the rulings of the Shari'ah are taken from Allah and from His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), not from the opinions of people. The rulings by which people are judged in matters of disbelief, or faith, or obedience, or sin are taken from Allah and from His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Thus, the one who abandons prayer has been judged by the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as a disbeliever. Similarly, the one who associates partners with Allah and worships others alongside Him has been judged by Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as a disbeliever. Likewise, the one who mocks Allah and His religion has been judged by Allah as a disbeliever.
As for the one who abandons fasting, he is a sinner; because Allah has not judged him as a disbeliever, nor has His Messenger. He is a sinner who is ordered to make up the fast. As for the one who abandons prayer, he becomes a disbeliever; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the authentic hadith: narrated by Muslim in his Sahih. And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): reported by Imam Ahmad and the people of the four Sunan collections with a sound chain from Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him).
There are other hadiths, all of which indicate the disbelief of the one who abandons prayer; because it is the pillar of Islam and the greatest of the pillars after the two testimonies. Therefore, the one who abandons it is a disbeliever. And if he embraces Islam, he is not ordered to make up the missed prayers; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not order those who apostatized and then embraced Islam to make up their prayers. Rather, he accepted their Islam and did not order them to make up the prayers. Similarly, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), when they fought the people of apostasy, did not order them to make up their prayers after they embraced Islam; because Islam wipes out what came before it. Islam is a great repentance that demolishes what came before it. Also, because demanding that a person make up what he missed during his state of apostasy may repel him from Islam. It may stand between him and entering Islam. So it was from the wisdom of Allah and His kindness to His servants that He made Islam demolish what was before it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So whoever embraces Islam, Allah forgives him his previous shirk and other sins.
As for the one who abandons fasting, he is a Muslim and does not become a disbeliever, provided he has not denied the obligation. If he has not denied the obligation of fasting Ramadan, but knows that it is obligatory upon him, yet he is lazy and breaks his fast at times, this makes him a sinner. He must make up the fast and repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.