Q: What is the ruling regarding those who neglect Salah? We are non-Arab Muslims and many of us pray sometimes and neglect prayer at other times until they are thirty years old when they start praying again. They only perform the present prayers, not the missed ones. Are they obliged to make up for the missed prayers or do they have to continue with the coming ones? Again, what about the missed days of fasting in Ramadan?

(Part No. 6; Page No. 48)  A: The people you described are disbelievers according to the preponderant view of scholars, if they leave Salah without denying its obligation. However, if they deny the obligation, they are disbelievers according to the majority of scholars. If they repent, offer the prescribed prayers, fast Ramadan, and continue to do good deeds, they are considered Muslims. They should not make up for the Salah and days of fasting they missed intentionally due to the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): Islam wipes out all that has gone before it (previous misdeeds) and penitence wipes out all that has gone before it Similarly, when the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) fought the apostates in the time of Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), they did not command those who returned to Islam to make up for the fasting and Salah they missed. Indeed, they are the most knowledgeable of the Shari`ah of Allah (Exalted be He) after the Prophets.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.