Regarding the Person Who Fasts but has Abandoned the Prayer

Author: Imaam ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Baaz (rahimahullah)

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

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:

 لَحَبِطَ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ وَلَوْ أَشْرَكُواْ

“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.

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.