Is it a big sin not to perform prayers due to laziness? Does such a person become an unbeliever?

Dear Brother / Sister,

It is among big sins not to perform prayers but a person who does not perform prayers does not become an unbeliever; he becomes only a sinner.

Prayer (salah) is a fard that is definite by the Quran, hadith and consensus of scholars (ijma). It is a lofty duty for every sane Muslim who has reached the age of puberty. Those who fulfill this important fard duty attain many graces and blessings of Allah.

It makes a believer exit the religion to deny that prayer is fard. However, those who do not perform prayers due to laziness without denying that it is fard undergo great loss.

Believers are ordered to perform prayers in many verses in the Quran. The following verse of the Quran states that prayer is a definite responsibility and duty for believers:

"…For such prayers are enjoined on believers at stated times." (an-Nisa, 4/103)

The following is stated in a hadith:

"Allah rendered it fard for every Muslim man and woman to perform five daily prayers." (Majmaul-Anhur (Sharhu Damad), Ihya Publication, 1/68; see Bukhari, Zakah, 1, 64)

Prayer was rendered fard on the Night of Miraj (Ascension), eighteen months before the Migration. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and the believers performed prayers before Miraj too. However, those prayers were performed twice a day: in the morning and in the evening. Besides, they were not fard; they were mandub.

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