Anyone who examines the texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnah will see that they indicate that the one who neglects the prayer is guilty of Kufr Akbar (major kufr) which puts him beyond the pale of Islam.
“But if they repent [by rejecting Shirk (polytheism) and accept Islamic Monotheism], perform As-Salaat (Iqaamat-as-Salaat) and give Zakaat, then they are your brethren in religion.” [al-Tawbah 9:11]
The evidence derived from this aayah is that Allaah defined three things that the Mushrikeen have to do in order to eliminate the differences between them us: they should repent from shirk, they should perform prayer, and they should pay zakaah.
If they repent from shirk but they do not perform the prayer or pay zakaah, then they are not our brethren in faith;
if they perform the prayer but do not pay zakaah, then they are not our brethren in faith.
Brotherhood in religion cannot be effaced except when a person goes out of the religion completely; it cannot be effaced by fisq (immoral conduct) or lesser types of kufr.
And from the Sunnah,
It was narrated that Buraydah ibn al-Husayb (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:
“I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: ‘The covenant that distinguishes between us and them is the prayer, and whoever neglects it has disbelieved (become a kaafir).’
So it is clear that the person who neglects the prayer with no excuse is a kaafir who is beyond the pale of Islam, on the basis of this evidence.
This is the correct view according to Imaam Ahmad, and it is one of the two opinions narrated from al-Shaafa’i, as was mentioned by Ibn Katheer in his tafseer of the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):
“Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have given up As-Salaat (the prayers) [i.e. made their Salaat (prayers) to be lost, either by not offering them or by not offering them perfectly or by not offering them in their proper fixed times] and have followed lusts” [Maryam 19:59]
So my dear brother and sister, do not leave off the PRAYER!
As Salam alaikum my dear brother, excellent article, very beneficial reminder where the Muslim should prioritize and consequences of not prioritizing the salat , may Allah reward you.
As Salam alaikum, excellent piece of work, and beneficial reminder to those who take Salah as something of a ” get to it later” like cutting the grass . May Allah reward you for your dawah brother