The cases in which a person is completely excused from prayer

Question:
What are the cases in which a person is completely excused from performing the prayer?

Answer:
No one is completely excused from performing the prayer as long as his mind is sound; rather, he prays according to his condition. He prays standing, and if he cannot, then sitting, and if he cannot, then on his side. No one is excused from prayer if he has reached puberty and is of sound mind. However, if he is a child below the age of puberty, or if he is insane, or if his mind is completely gone, then the obligation is lifted from him. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “The pen has been lifted from three: the child until he reaches puberty, the sleeper until he wakes up, and the insane person until he regains his sanity” [narrated by Abu Dawud in his Sunan]. The conclusion is that prayer does not drop from a Muslim who has reached puberty and is of sound mind as long as his mind is sound, but he prays according to his condition.