One of the consequences of neglecting prayer is that God removes blessings and prosperity from a person's life and livelihood.
Neglecting Prayer: Ingratitude, Denial of Divine Blessings, and the Pillar of Religion
Neglecting prayer is ingratitude, ungratefulness, and denial of God's blessings, as well as removing the pillar and foundation of religion, because prayer is the base of religion. Neglecting prayer and worship makes human creation and life futile and meaningless, while humans are created for worship. Neglecting prayer and supplication leads to abandoning the most enjoyable states of human existence.
Prayer is one of the religious duties and special acts of worship that Muslims perform five times a day. According to the Quran and existing evidence, prayer has been a religious duty since the creation of Adam.
Prayer is the most important religious act. If it is accepted by God, other acts of worship are also accepted; if it is rejected, other acts will not be accepted. Just as washing in a stream five times a day cleanses the body, performing the five daily prayers cleanses a person from sins.
In the Holy Quran, which contains guidance and instructions for a prosperous life for humanity, there are 1 verse regarding Khums (a type of religious tax), 13 verses about fasting, 18 verses about pilgrimage, and 23 verses about Zakat (almsgiving), but there are more than 122 verses about prayer that emphasize its importance, rules, and related issues.
Some narrations describe those who intentionally abandon prayer as disbelievers:
"Whoever deliberately abandons prayer has committed disbelief..."
(Al-‘Allamah Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 30, p. 673)
There are two cases:
Sometimes a person is negligent or careless about prayer due to ignorance, laziness, or neglect. Such a person is not a theological or legal disbeliever but has shown ingratitude toward divine blessings and deserves punishment, yet is still considered a Muslim.
Sometimes a person denies the very concept of prayer and religious obligations, and in this case, he is considered a legal disbeliever, with all consequences such as no marriage and being regarded as ritually impure.
Question:
We rented a house with some friends and found out one of them does not pray. When asked, he said he believes in God in his heart but does not pray. Considering close social and dining relations with him, should we consider him ritually impure?
Answer:
Simply neglecting prayer, fasting, and other religious duties does not make a Muslim an apostate or ritually impure, and until apostasy is confirmed, the person is regarded as a fellow Muslim.
(Source: Hedana website, from Ayatollah Khamenei’s rulings)
Question:
When is a person who abandons prayer considered a disbeliever and ritually impure?
Answer:
Simply neglecting prayer does not cause disbelief, although it is a major sin.
The prohibition of abandoning prayer is more serious than many other forbidden acts because some sins happen without the intention of disrespecting God, but out of human weakness and then repentance follows. However, abandoning prayer is due to weak faith and ignoring God's command.
Prayer done unwillingly or as a burdensome chore cannot be pleasing or beneficial. Those who seek only worldly pleasures should remember that life is fleeting and the time to answer for one’s deeds will come. If you do not have time to pray now, think for a moment about how you will answer for neglecting it. Is it a joke? Can you still say, “I took my medicine” or “I have not reached the age of responsibility”?
Being deprived of God’s and the Prophet’s protection:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever deliberately abandons prayer without a valid excuse is removed from the protection of God and His Messenger."
(‘Uyūn Akhbār al-Riḍā, vol. 1, p. 285)
Deprivation of divine help:
A person who prays asks God for help in every prayer by saying, "You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help." One who neglects prayer denies himself this divine assistance, which comes from the Almighty, the Merciful, the Wise.
Giving Satan dominance:
Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) reported from his father that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Satan fears the son of Adam and keeps away as long as he performs his five daily prayers on time. But if he neglects them, Satan gains courage and leads him into great sins."
(Thawab al-A‘mal wa ‘Iqab al-A‘mal, p. 230)
