Negligence in Performing the Prayer

Question:
The questioner says: “This is a young man who travels outside his country. He says, ‘Sometimes I miss the prayers, and I miss praying the prayer at its time. For example, I might be asleep before the Fajr prayer and not wake up until after the Asr prayer. What I do is that I pray the Asr prayer at its time. As for the other prayers that I miss, I do not pray them out of laziness. When I return to my country, I pray them along with the other obligatory prayers, for example, Fajr with Fajr, and Zuhr with Zuhr, according to their number. The question is: What is the correct course of action in such a case for one who has missed a prayer out of laziness or forgetfulness, and what is the ruling in the Shari’ah?’”

Answer:
Answer: Prayer is a great obligation and the second of the pillars of Islam. It is the pillar of Islam and the first thing for which a servant will be held accountable on the Day of Resurrection. Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said: (Guard strictly the prayers, and the middle prayer). He said: (And those who guard their prayers). He said: (Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers at specified times). It is obligatory for a person to pray as Allah has commanded him, not as his own self commands him. He must pray as Allah has commanded him at the time of prayer, in congregation, and he must not neglect the prayer by missing its time or neglecting the congregation. Sleep is not a permanent excuse; rather, the occasional sleep that overtakes a person who is determined to pray at its time and determined to pray in congregation, but sleep overcomes him, is an excuse. However, when he wakes up, he must hasten to pray. Likewise, if he forgets, if he forgets a prayer, he must hasten to make it up, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): (Whoever forgets a prayer or sleeps through it, let him pray it when he remembers it or wakes up; there is no expiation for it except that). What the questioner mentioned is wrong: that he leaves multiple prayers on the pretext that he is sleeping. He must not make sleep a barrier for him from prayer; rather, he must calculate the time for prayer and be determined to wake up for it. As for being lax and sleeping until many prayers pass by, as he mentioned, and then making them up afterwards, this is from those who neglect prayer. Allah, Glorified and Exalted, said: (Then there came after them successors who neglected prayer and followed desires. So they are going to encounter error). He said: (So woe to the pray-ers, who are neglectful of their prayer). Negligence regarding prayer is taking it outside its time without a valid religious excuse. Also, from neglecting prayer is leaving the congregation while one is able to pray in congregation. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Whoever hears the call to prayer and does not come to it, there is no prayer for him except from an excuse). Prayer is the pillar of Islam; if he neglects it, he will be more neglectful of what is besides it. If a Muslim cares about his prayer and calculates its time, that is because it is the pillar of Islam, and he has no religion except through prayer, just as a house does not stand except on a pillar. So what remains for a person if he neglects his prayer? It is not required that he pray according to his desire, but it is obligatory that he pray as Allah, Exalted is He, has commanded. The one who habitually sleeps through several prayers is a neglector and a sinner. The excuse is only for occasional sleep. At times, it is obligatory for the Muslim to organize his time and his works with prayer, leaving the time for prayer to pray it at its time, and making another time for works. (Then when the prayer has been completed, disperse in the land and seek the bounty of Allah). And when he hears the call, he turns to prayer and leaves the works of this world, buying and selling. (No trade or sale should divert them from the remembrance of Allah and the establishment of prayer and the giving of zakah. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will turn about). And what remains for the Muslim if he is a neglector of prayer? Nothing remains for him of his religion. It is obligatory to be alert to this matter and to care about prayer and performing it in the manner Allah has commanded, so that it may be beneficial for him. He, Glorified and Exalted, said: (And establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows what you do). He said: (And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humble). It is heavy for the lazy and for those who do not realize the status of prayer, except for the humble who fear Allah, Exalted is He, for they guard their prayers.