Q:

Assalamu Alykum,

Some Muslims fast during Ramadan, but they don’t  pray their 5 daily prayers. Is their fasting valid?

JAK

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

There is no doubt that Prayer in Islam is the first and foremost of the five pillars, second only to the testimony of the Oneness of Allah. It is also the hallmark of a believer and the only sure guarantee of paradise.

So, a person who is neglecting Prayer is guilty of a significant breach of faith.

Having said this, we cannot say that his fast is not valid. The fact that he commits a major enormity does not mean that his other good deeds are not valid. We need to leave the judgment to Allah. We should pray and hope that if he were to fast in the proper spirit,  he would start establishing Prayer as well.

The best way to deal with such people is to make them understand Prayer’s fundamental nature in Islam and thus persuade them to change.

Almighty Allah Knows best.