The importance of Salaah

Foregoing Salaah

Q: I know someone who has never prayed in his life!  From a Muslim background. When I say has never prayed, I mean that he has tried, but without wudhu and not really uttering the words of prayer properly, or even not saying them at all!  He is not really one who has abandoned prayer or has left the prayer, because he hasn’t really prayed or prayed properly in the first place.  So I said to him that he is like one who has never prayed at all. He is in his early 30’s, but he tells me that he strongly believes in Allah and His Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam).  He also mentioned that he knows and believes that praying is obligatory. He also said that sometimes he prays with the people who think he is praying properly, only to please them, but yet he feels tense inside when he is asked to pray with them, as he believes he is not ready.  He is never in a state of wudu before he prays superficially anyway. The thing is, he keeps saying that he will learn and pray when he is in the right situation, as he is not in the best of states at the moment.  I think he knows that pray is central and foremost, but neglects it and puts other things in front of him that he feels are more important right now for him. Please note that he also knows and believes that prayer is mandatory. He does not look down on Islam, and never mocks it!  So I don’t know if he is one who is not praying out of laziness, or by the information above, is one who is considered an unbeliever, because he is putting other things that he feels needs to be achieved first before the importance of prayer?  (I’m trying to advise him as best I can) Also the question on making up 33 years of prayer for him, if this applies to  him, is extremely burdensome.  With people’s life and work life the way they are these days, it would be very difficult.  We know, without question, that Allah (azza wa jal) deserves infinite prayers, but if he has to make them up, then this would be calculated at 60,060 prayers that is has missed! Could you shed some light on this person’s status as it would help me try and convince him not to worry about things and to take prayer seriously.

Will one become a kaafir if he does not perform Salaah?

Q: The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) once said, that the one who leaves or abandons prayer is a kaafir. So what if one who has parents that are from a Muslim background, (practising or otherwise), has never prayed the 5 prayers out of laziness or other reasons, but believes in Allah and His Messenger; is he/she still considered a kaafir? I mean, will they still be Muslims, but only called non-practising Muslims due to them not praying? Also, what if they try to pray sporadically, but without wudu or without saying the prayer words properly or without intention, only to please others (while they still know this is wrong); are these people still considered non-practising Muslims, even though they still believe wholly in Allah and His Messenger? How is a Muslim defined in this case? The reason why I am asking this, is because I heard that because one has either left the prayer or has never properly prayed to begin with, is not even considered a Muslim, regardless of whether he/she believes in Allah and His Messenger or not?  Is this correct?

Omitting one's Salaah and performing it as qaza due to one's job

Q: I recite quaran daily in the morning without fail. Also I had started salat but unfortunately I can not perform five time salaat on time because my job is like that. So whatever time of salaat I get, I perform it. Like I came early home so I perform magrib and isha. So my question is that how can I perform Salaah on it's proper time or else I have to perform kaza namaz.

Not waking up for fajr Salaah

Q: It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: A woman came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when we were with him and said: “O Messenger of Allaah, my husband Safwaan ibn al-Mu’attal does not pray Fajr until the sun has risen.” Safwaan was with him, so he asked him about what she had said, and he said: “O Messenger of Allaah, we are a family who are known not to wake up until the sun has risen.” He said: “When you wake up, then pray.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2459; classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 7/65. 

I can't pray fajr salah because I have sleep problems.  I don't fall asleep easily and if I wake up for fajr I can't fall asleep again so can I pray fajr at zuhr time, would it be valid and am I a kafir if I don't pray fajr on time. Above hadith it says our prophet allowed a man to pray fajr after sunrise.