Ruling on making up obligatory prayers for one who intentionally left them
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Q342: The questioner says: During my youth, I used to pray sometimes and leave it off sometimes, while maintaining the Friday prayer. However, for the past three years or so, I have started maintaining all the prayers, with great regret for my previous negligence. I am making up what I missed; for example, I pray Fajr
four rak'ahs: two as the current obligatory prayer, two as making up a missed one, and the two rak'ahs of the recommended practice, and so on for the other obligatory prayers. Is my practice correct, or is something else required of me?
A342: First: Laziness in prayer and negligence regarding it is a very serious and heinous matter. It is shameful for a Muslim to be negligent about the prayer, which is the pillar of Islam and the second of the pillars of Islam. Second: Thank Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for having granted you repentance and regret for what happened. This is obligatory for every Muslim: when he commits a sin, he should repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) with a valid repentance. Allah accepts the repentance of those who repent and forgives all sins, and repentance wipes out what came before it. Praise be to Allah who granted you repentance, and we ask Him for steadfastness in the truth for us and for you. As for the issue of making up missed prayers, the correct view is that one who intentionally leaves the prayer commits disbelief by doing so, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Since you have repented to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), returned to your religion, and maintained the prayers, this is sufficient, and you do not have to make up the missed prayers according to the correct view. And Allah the Exalted knows best.
four rak'ahs: two as the current obligatory prayer, two as making up a missed one, and the two rak'ahs of the recommended practice, and so on for the other obligatory prayers. Is my practice correct, or is something else required of me?
A342: First: Laziness in prayer and negligence regarding it is a very serious and heinous matter. It is shameful for a Muslim to be negligent about the prayer, which is the pillar of Islam and the second of the pillars of Islam. Second: Thank Allah (Mighty and Majestic) for having granted you repentance and regret for what happened. This is obligatory for every Muslim: when he commits a sin, he should repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) with a valid repentance. Allah accepts the repentance of those who repent and forgives all sins, and repentance wipes out what came before it. Praise be to Allah who granted you repentance, and we ask Him for steadfastness in the truth for us and for you. As for the issue of making up missed prayers, the correct view is that one who intentionally leaves the prayer commits disbelief by doing so, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Between the servant and disbelief or shirk (associating partners with Allah) is leaving the prayer
بين العبد وبين الكفر أو الشرك ترك الصلاة
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.