Fasting & NOT Praying...

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan (Hafidhahullaah)

Q. What is the ruling of the one who fasts the blessed (month of) Ramadhan without praying at all with no (legislated) excuse, knowing that we have advised him many times, but he has not listened?

The one who waste the prayer, the fast nor any other action is considered sound (i.e. accepted) from him. That is because the one who abandons the prayer has disbelieved & the action that comes from the disbeliever is not sound (i.e. accepted). The prayer is the second pillar from the pillars of Islaam & the fast is the fourth pillar. Therefore the prayer is given precedence over the fast & it is the pillar of Islaam. 

Therefore the one who doesn't pray, his fast or any other action is not accepted from him. Upon him is to repent to Allaah The Glorified & Most High & preserve the five daily prayers. Then after that, he preserves the rest of the affairs of his religion from the fast & other than it.

As long as he is not praying he is NOT a Muslim and his actions are NOT accepted from him. The prayer is the pillar of Islaam. Does a building stand without a pillar!? This is impossible."

 

From: "al-Muntqaa min Fataawaa Fadeelatish-Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan ibn Abdillaah al-Fawzaan" (3/159) Fatwaa # 242

Translated by: Abu Yusuf Khaleefah

28th day of Sha'baan 1433/ 18th of July 2012