Regarding the Person Who Fasts but has Abandoned the Prayer

Regarding the Person Who Fasts but has Abandoned the Prayer

Author: Ash-Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Baaz (rahimahullah)

Source: Tuhfat-ul-Akhwaani bi-Ajwibah Muhimmah Tata’alluqu bi-Arkaan-il-Islaami, Page 177-178

Translator: Aboo ‘Imraan al-Mekseekee

Question: What is the ruling of the one, who fasts but has abandoned the

prayer, is his fast accepted?

Answer: What is correct is that the one who has abandoned the prayer

deliberately, has disbelieved and committed Kufr Akbar (the type of disbelief

that expels one from Islam), so due to this his fasting is not correct nor are any

of the remaining acts of worship that he does until he repents to Allah The

Glorified, based on the statement of Allah The Mighty & Majestic:

وَلَوْ أَشْرَكُو ا لَحَبِطَ عَنْھُم مَّا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ

“And if they had associated others with Allah in worship, all that they

used to do would have been of no benefit to them.”

[Soorat-ul-An'aam: 88]

And what has been conveyed from its meaning in the Quranic verses and

Prophetic Narrations.

Regarding the Person Who Fasts but has Abandoned the Prayer





And a group from the People of Knowledge held the opinion that the one who

does this has not disbelieved and that his fasting is not rendered invalid nor are

any of his acts of worship that he preformed if he affirmed the obligation but

rather he abandoned the prayer out of negligence and laziness.

However the first statement is what is correct and that he disbelieves when

abandoning it deliberately even if he affirmed the obligation based on the many

evidences, from them is the statement of the Prophet (may the peace & blessings of

Allah be upon him):

“Between a man and between Kufr (disbelief) and Shirk (associating

partners with Allah) is the abandonment of the prayer.”

Related by Muslim in his Saheeh from the narration of Jaabir bin ‘Abdillah (may

Allah be pleased with them both).

In addition to his statement (may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him):

“The covenant between us and between them is the prayer, so whoever

leaves it off has disbelieved.”

Related by Imam Ahmad and the People of the Four Sunan with a chain of

transmission that is authentic, from the narration of Buraydah bin al-Husayn al-

Aslamee (may Allah be pleased with him).

And al-‘Alaamah Ibn-ul-Qayyim (rahimahullah) has expanded the statements

regarding this in an independent treatise concerning the rulings of prayer and

abandoning it, it is a beneficial treatise suitable for review and to be benefited

from.