Sincere repentance is sufficient for one who has passed the age of puberty and has not prayed
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Q: I am currently 29 years old, and I started praying at the age of 24 and I am still doing so, praise be to Allah, and I thank Him for guiding me. I have taken the initiative to make up the prayers I owe since I was 15 years old according to my capacity, but people’s opinions differ; some say: you are not required to make them up and repentance is sufficient, while others say: you are required to make them up. I ask for clarification of the correct ruling.
T. B - Algeria
A: The correct ruling is that you are not required to make up the prayers, and sincere repentance is sufficient in that matter. It includes regret for what occurred from you, steadfastness in prayer, and the sincere resolve not to return to abandoning it. This is based on the saying of Allah : [Al-Anfal: 38], and His saying, Exalted is He: [Al-Nur: 31], and His saying, Exalted is He: [Al-Tahrim: 8], and the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Riyad as-Salihin 710, and his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 4250Da’if (Darussalam). The verses and hadiths in this meaning are numerous.
And we ask Allah to grant you understanding in the religion and steadfastness upon the truth, and we advise you to keep the company of the righteous and to beware of the company of the wicked. May Allah accept your repentance, and may He make a good ending for us and for you.
T. B - Algeria
A: The correct ruling is that you are not required to make up the prayers, and sincere repentance is sufficient in that matter. It includes regret for what occurred from you, steadfastness in prayer, and the sincere resolve not to return to abandoning it. This is based on the saying of Allah :
Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them
قُلْ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنْ يَنْتَهُوا يُغْفَرْ لَهُمْ مَا قَدْ سَلَفَAnd 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 نَصُوحًا(embracing) Islam wipes out all that has gone before it (previous misdeeds). Verily, emigration wipes out all the previous sins
الإسلام يهدم ما كان قبله والتوبة تهدم ما كان قبلهاThe one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin.
التائب من الذنب كمن لا ذنب لهAnd we ask Allah to grant you understanding in the religion and steadfastness upon the truth, and we advise you to keep the company of the righteous and to beware of the company of the wicked. May Allah accept your repentance, and may He make a good ending for us and for you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.