(Regular Sunnah Prayers and Optional Prayers (Nawaafil

Regular Sunnah Prayers

Note:

①Difference between schools concerning the number of prayer units of regular Sunnah prayers is possible.

②Performing regular Sunnah prayers does not substitute for making up for missed obligatory prayers.

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¨Regular Sunnah prayers are totally seventeen prayer units (Rakᶦaat):

*The two “Fajr” prayer units before morning prayer.

*Four prayer units before noon prayer and two units after it.

*Four units before afternoon prayer.                             

*Two units after sunset prayer.

*Three units after night prayer (one of them is performed as an odd prayer ‘Witr’).

●Umm Habibah (May Allah be pleased with her) the Mother of the Believers reported:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (P.P.B.U.H) saying: “If any servant (of Allah) prays for the sake of God twelve prayer units (Rakᶦahs) of voluntary (Sunnah) prayers every day, other than the obligatory prayers, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim.    Book 6, Hadith 126

●It was narrated from Umm Habibah that the Messenger of Allah said, “Twelve prayer units, whoever performs them Allah will build for him a house in Paradise: 

four units (Rakᶦaat) before noon prayer (Dhuhr) and two units after it, two units before afternoon prayer (Asr), two units after sunset prayer (Maghrib), and two units before morning prayer (Subh).” 

Reference: Sunan AL-Nasaᶦi     Book 20, Hadith 204

●It was narrated from ᶦAᶦishah that the Prophet said, “The two (Sunnah) prayer units (before) the morning (the dawn) prayer are better than this world and all it contains.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim.    Book 6, Hadith 118

¨There is a prayer of two prayer units between the call to prayer (Adhan) and the second call to prayer (Iqamah).

●It was narrated from Abd Allah ibn Mughaffal that the Messenger of Allah said, “Between every two calls (Adhan and Iqamah) there is a prayer.” He said it three times, and on the third time he said, “For those who wish.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim.    Book 6, Hadith 368

●It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah said, “The invocation made between AL-Adhan and AL-Iqamah is never rejected.”   

Reference: Riyad As-Saaliheen. The Book of Virtues. Hadith 1043

¨It is better to perform Sunnah Prayers at home.

●It was narrated from Ibn ᶦUmar that the Prophet said, “Offer some of your (Sunnah) prayers at home, and do not take your houses as graves.”

Reference: Sahih AL-Bukhari.  Book 8, Hadith 82

●It was narrated from Saᶦd ibn Ishaaq from his father that his grandfather said, 

“The Messenger of Allah performed sunset prayer (Maghrib) in the mosque of Banu Abd AL-Ashhal, and when he finished praying some people stood up to offer optional prayer. So the Prophet said, ‘You should offer this prayer in your houses.’”

Reference: Sunan AL-Nasaᶦi      Book 20, Hadith 3

●Zaid ibn Thabit (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (P.P.B.U.H) said, “O people! Perform your (voluntary) prayer at your homes because the best prayer of a man is the one he performs at home, except the obligatory prayer.”

Reference: Riyad As-Saaliheen. The Book of Vitues [AL-Bukhari and Muslim].

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What is the regular Sunnah prayer that follows Friday prayer?

It is known that Friday prayer is obligatory. It is of two prayer units which substitute for noon prayer (Dhuhr).

Shafii sees that Friday prayer to be valid, not less than forty men in addition to the leader must perform it. 

Ibn Hanbal and Abu-Hanifah see that three men in addition to the leader must perform it. 

Imam Malik sees that twelve men in addition to the leader must perform it.

As for the Sunnah of Friday prayer:

In Abi-Hanifah School, it is four prayer units and are performed after AL-Adhan and before the leader (Imam) ascends the pulpit.

In Shafii School, the Sunnah is four prayer units performed after Friday prayer. And this is according to tradition:

●It was narrated from Abi-Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (P.P.B.U.H) said, “Whoever among you is to pray after the Friday prayer, then let him pray four.”

Reference: Jamiᶦ AL-Tirmidhi    Book 4, Hadith 36

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Optional Prayers= Voluntary Prayers= Nawaafil

Naafilah in Arabic Language means excess.

Nawaafil are legislated to compensate for under performance of obligatory prayers, as a praying person may get distracted or forget humbleness in his prayer. As a result, his prayer’s reward decreases.

 Notes about Nawaafil

1) In travel, it is permissible to pray without facing AL-Qiblah (Ka'bah direction) during the movement of the train, the ship, or the plane.

2) You can pray Naafilah while sitting when you get tired of standing up.

●Imran ibn Husain reported: “I had piles, so I asked the Prophet about the prayer. He said, ‘Pray while standing and if you cannot, pray while sitting and if you cannot do even that, then pray lying on your side.’”

Reference: Sahih AL-Bukhari.  Book 18, Hadith 37

3) Obligations and Nawaafil are specified, i.e., no one can innovate an obligatory or a Sunnah prayer.

As for this world transactions, you can innovate a good deed. 

For example: you can devote a day or a week for helping the poor, for a gathering of knowledge, or for studying the Holy Qur'an.

4) When you pray a Naafilah individually, you can prolong reciting the Qur'an, after reciting Chapter of the Opening, as you like.

But if you lead praying persons, you should commit to lightening.

●Jabir ibn Samurah reported: The Prophet ﷺ used to recite ﴾By the sky containing great stars﴿ , ﴾By the sky and the night comer﴿ , and similar Chapters in noon (Dhuhr) and afternoon ('Asr) prayers.

Reference: Sunan An-Nasa'i.  Book 11, Hadith 104

●Umm AL-Fadl reported: Allah’s Messenger came out to us with his head bandaged from his illness. He performed sunset prayer (Maghrib) reciting Chapter of Those Sent Forth (AL-Mursalaat).

Reference: Jami' At-Tirmidhi.  Book 2, Hadith 160

●AL-Bara' ibn 'Aazib reported: 

The Prophet recited ﴾By the fig and the olive﴿ for the night prayer ('Isha').

Reference: Jami' At-Tirmidhi.  Book 2, Hadith 162

◊ In optional night prayer (Tahajjud), the Prophet sometimes used to recite Chapter of the Heifer, and at other times he used to recite many Chapters.

Types of Nawaafil:

*Permanent Nawaafil.                           

*Nawaafil that performed in certain occasions.

*Specific Nawaafil (that a person performs individually, i.e., not in a group).

[1] Permanent Nawaafil:

□The mosque greeting prayer.              

□Ablution prayer.                   

□Forenoon prayer.

□Optional night prayer (Tahajjud).

□Odd prayer (Witr).

[2] Nawaafil that are performed in certain occasions:

□The prayer of circumambulation of AL-Kaᶦbah.

□The prayer of returning from travel.

□Rest prayer.                                                            

□The two festivals prayers.

□Rain invoking prayer.                                            

□Solar eclipse and lunar eclipse prayer.

□Funeral prayer.

[3] Specific Nawaafil (That a person performs individually, i.e., not in a group)

□Praises Prayer (Salat At-Tasaabeeh)             

□Guidance Prayer (Salat Al-Istikhaarah)

□Repentance Prayer (Salat At-Tawbah)

Read also
Permanent Nawaafil
Nawaafil performed in certain occasions
Specific Nawaafil

Sunnah and voluntary prayers

SUNNAH AND VOLUNTARY PRAYERS

Regular Sunnah prayers which are performed before or after the obligatory five daily prayers (Their total number is seventeen prayer units):

*The two “Fajr” prayer units before morning prayer.

*Four prayer units before noon prayer and two units after it.

*Four units before afternoon prayer.                            
*Two units after sunset prayer.

*Three units after night prayer (one of them is performed as an odd prayer ‘Witr’).

- And there are:

a) Permanent voluntary prayers:

*Optional night prayer: It is performed in pairs (two prayer units every time) and then the last one is odd prayer (one prayer unit).                                              
*Mosque greeting prayer.

*Ablution renewing prayer.   

*Forenoon prayer (It ranges between two prayer units and eight units).

b) Voluntary prayers performed in their occasions:

*The two festivals prayers.                                
*Rain invoking prayer.                               
*Eclipse prayer.

*Lunar eclipse prayer.                                         
*Rest prayer (Traweeh).

*AL-Kaᶦbah circumambulation prayer.             
*Returning from travel prayer.                
*Funeral prayer.

- All of them are two prayer units, except the rest prayer which ranges from eight to twenty prayer units.

- Funeral prayer is performed by saying, “God is the Greatest” four times without bowing down or prostration. 

c) Personal prayers:

*Praises prayer (Salat At Tasabeeh).                                                   
*Guidance prayer.

*Repentance prayer.                                          
*Need prayer.

- All of them are two prayer units, except the praises prayer which is four prayer units.

۞ A Muslim performs the following prayers alone:

*Praises prayer.                                  *Guidance prayer.

*Need prayer.                                     *Repentance prayer.

*Mosque greeting prayer.                  
*AL-Kaᶦbah circumambulation prayer.

*Forenoon prayer.                               *Returning from travel prayer.

And he performs the following prayers in a group:

*Rain invoking prayer.                          *The two festivals prayers.

*Lunar eclipse prayer.                           *Eclipse prayer.                               

*Rest prayer.                                         *Funeral prayer.

Prayer shortening and combination

TRAVELLER’S PRAYER SHORTENING

Prayer shortening has been legislated in the fourth Islamic Year. 
It is a new addition to facilitation of Islam in acts of worship. Abu-Hanifah sees it is an emphasized Sunnah, and AL Shafii sees that it is better for those who have travelled more than three days. 
It is permissible to, indeed duty on, the traveller to shorten four unit-prayers (noon, afternoon, and night prayers) to two prayer units.

God says ﴾And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer﴿Chapter of Women.

●ᶦAᶦishah reported: Allah enjoined the prayer when He enjoined it, it was two units only (in every prayer) both when in residence or on journey. Then, the prayers offered on journey remained the same, but (the units of) the prayers for non-travellers were increased. [AL Bukhari].

●ᶦUmar ibn AL-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (P.P.B.U.H) said: “It is an act of charity that Allah has bestowed upon you, so accept charity.” [Muslim].

●Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet resided in Makkah and its surroundings for ten  days, and he shortened his prayers in all these days.

Conditions of prayer shortening:

1) Travel is not for disobedience. NO prayer shortening for the one who has travelled to kill, rub others, or to participate in amusement events.

2) Travel distance must be 81 km according to Abu-Hanifah School, or 89 km according to Imam Shafii School.

3) Travel direction must be specified. But the one, who is wandering aimlessly, does not shorten his prayer.

Prayer shortening provisions:

❶If a Muslim travelled, and when he arrived he decided to reside there, he would not be allowed to shorten his prayer.

❷If his residence period in the country (to which he had travelled) exceeded fifteen days, he would not shorten his prayer (according to Abu- Hanifah School). According to Malik School, if he intended to stay four days in the country to which he had travelled (the day of entering this country is not included in them), he would be considered a resident there and would not shorten his prayer.

❸If he missed a prayer in his country, he would not shorten it, but he would perform it in full.

❹If he prayed, during his travel, behind a resident leader (Imam), he would do it in full.

❺A Muslim is considered a traveller as soon as he passes the end of his country borders or the gateway, and his travel ends as soon as he enters his country borders.

❻If a sailor travelled in a ship with his family and money in it, he would be allowed to shorten his prayer (according to Imam Shafii, Malik, and Abu-Hanifah Schools). But  Ahmad ibn Hanbal sees that this sailor is not allowed to shorten his prayer.

❼If he travelled to fulfill a need and could not determine time period required for it, he would be allowed to shorten his prayer (according to Imam Malik School).

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COMBINATION of TWO PRAYERS

Its legitimacy: 

It has been legislated in Tabuk Holy Battle, in the ninth year of Hijrah. Allah commanded it to relieve His servants.

Causes of prayers combination in the four schools:

[1] Shafii: He has allowed combination of two prayers when conditions of prayer shortening are met.  It will be advanced combination only.

[2] Imam Malik: He has allowed combination of two prayers in case of road travel for any distance, even if a person is not travelling to perform pilgrimage. For example: Severe illness, rain and mud, and presence of a pilgrim at Arafat or Muzdalifah.

[3] Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal: He allowed combination in case of travelling to perform pilgrimage, provided that the distance travelled is equal to that required to shorten prayer. And in case of severe illness, blindness, extreme cold, and wild wind.

[4] Abu-Hanifah: He allowed combination to a pilgrim only at Arafat (advanced combination), and at Muzdalifah (delayed combination), on the basis of the following tradition:

●Abdullah ibn Masᶦud reported: By Him besides Whom there is no god but He, the Apostle of Allah has never performed a prayer out of its proper time, except two prayers: he combined noon and afternoon prayers at Arafat (advanced combination), and combined  sunset and night prayers (delayed combination) at Muzdalifah. 

[AL-Bukhari and Muslim].

Types of prayers combination

A traveller can both shorten and combine two prayers (noon and afternoon prayers), (sunset and night prayers).

Note: No amendment in this, i.e., you cannot combine noon and sunset prayers, afternoon and night prayers, etc.

۞You perform the noon prayer on time and follow it with the afternoon prayer (advanced combination), or you perform the noon prayer after the call to the afternoon prayer and follow it with performing the afternoon prayer (delayed combination). This occurs 

according to your travel conditions.

۞Also you can combine sunset and night prayers before or after the call to the night prayer.

Prayer combination provisions

1) In travel, you are not obliged to perform Friday prayer; instead, you perform noon  prayer.

2) Prayer combination conditions: are the same as those of prayer shortening, in addition  to:

a)) Performing the two prayers in order.       

b)) There is no long separation between the two prayers.

3) The intention text will be, for example, “I have intended to pray the two prayer units of the obligatory noon prayer combined and shortened.”

4) It is permissible to the resident to combine two prayers (advanced combination only),  and that occurs in case of heavy rain.

●Ibn ᶦAbbas reported: The Prophet (P.P.B.U.H) performed the noon and afternoon prayers together, and the sunset and the night prayers together without being in a state of fear or in a state of journey. [Muslim].

●Ibn ᶦUmar reported: I saw Allah’s Apostle, whenever he was in a hurry during the journey, delaying the sunset prayer, performing it in three prayer units, and performing prayer end greeting. After waiting for a short while, he would pronounce the second call (AL-Iqamah) to the night prayer, offer two prayer units, and perform prayer end greeting. 

[AL-Bukhari].

  

Prostration of forgetfulness

PROSTRATION OF FORGETFULNESS

Before beginning to pray, a Muslim must finish everything concerns him and devote himself to standing in front of Allah. It is preferred that the place be empty of  inscriptions and drawings, because if there are any of them, the Devil will not let him perform prayer well.

Devil promised Allah to do so and said in Chapter of the Heights (Surat AL-ᶦAaraaf) ﴾Because You have put me in error, I will surely sit in wait   for them on Your straight path(16)Then I will come to them before them and from behind them and on their right and on their left, and You will not find most of them grateful [to You](17)﴿

It is God’s mercy to us that if a Muslim forgot something in his prayer, he would not stop performing it, instead, he would continue it and then he would prostrate twice after testification and before prayer-end greeting.

When does a praying person perform forgetfulness prostration?

1) The pillar of prayer: Prostration of forgetfulness does not deputize for it. If you remember it soon, perform it, complete your prayer, and perform the two forgetfulness prostrations at the end of the prayer. But Imam Malik sees that forgetting a pillar makes prayer invalid, therefore the praying person should perform prayer-end greeting and perform this prayer again.

2) When you forget the first testification in the four unit-prayers.

3) If there is a doubt about the number of prayer units, then you pray according to the least number.

4) Perform forgetfulness prostration also when you are sure that you have added  something in your prayer.

●It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik that the Prophet (P.P.B.U.H) said, “I am made forget, in order to legislate laws.” It means that the Prophet’s forgetfulness was intended to legislate prostration of forgetfulness. It is not a defect in fulfilling his mission.

●Abu-Hurairah reported: The Messenger of Allah led us in the afternoon prayer and     gave salutation (Tasleem) after two prayer units. Dhul-Yadain stood up and said: “O Messenger of Allah, has the prayer been shortened or have you forgotten?” 
The  Messenger of Allah said, “Nothing like this happened (neither the prayer has been shortened nor have I forgotten).”
Dhul-Yadain said: “O Messenger of Allah, something   has definitely happened.” The Messenger of Allah turned towards people and said: “Is Dhul-Yadain true (in his assertion)?” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, he is true.” 
Then the Messenger of Allah completed the rest of the prayer and then performed two prostrations. [The Two Scholars].

*Some jurisprudents see that forgetfulness prostration is to be performed after the two prayer-end greetings.

   

Prayer (Salah)

(PRAYER (Salah

It is words and deeds which begin with (Takbeer) which means saying “Allah is the Greatest (Allaahu Akbar)”, and end with prayer-end greeting (Tasleem).

The five prayers have been made obligatory in Makkah in the Night Journey of Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Jerusalem and his Ascent to the Seventh Heaven, when he reached to the Lote Tree of the farthest limit (Sidrat AL-Muntaha). 

God says ﴾Certainly the believers have succeeded(1)They who are during their prayer humble﴿(2) And says ﴾And they who carefully maintain their prayers﴿ And says ﴾And enjoin prayer up on your family [and people] and be steadfast therein﴿.

●It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik that the Prophet (P.P.B.U.H) said, “Allah enjoined fifty prayers upon my nation (Ummah), and I had been going back to Him and asking Him for reduction till He made them five prayers every day and night.” [The Two Scholars].

Upon Whom Prayer is Obligatory?

It is obligatory on the rational adult Muslim (male or female). However, the command of performing it begins at an early age, so that the Muslim accustoms to it from his childhood.

It is the responsibility of parents in this stage of their child’s life till he becomes an adult at the age of eleven or thirteen, then their charge will be providing advice, and applying “Carrot and Stick” approach.

●It was narrated from Amr ibn Shuᶦaib (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet said: “Command your children to perform prayer when they are seven years old, and beat them for (not performing) it when they are ten, and do not let (boys and girls) sleep together.” [Abu-Daoud].

Prayer is The Most Important Pillar of Islam:

Many Prophetic and Sacred traditions are provided in priority and importance of the five prayers, and in warning against leaving or neglecting them. They were one of the Prophet’s priorities. When it was time to pray, the Prophet used to say, “O Bilal, give us comfort by it.” He also said, “My comfort has been provided in prayer.” And if he had a distress, he used to pray and talk intimately to Allah. The Prophet’s last words (recommendation), before his death, were: “Prayer and those your right hands possess (slaves)... Prayer and those your right hands possess." 

      𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇

Why are the Five Prayers the Most Important Pillar of Islam

❶They are the only pillar that the Prophet has received from God directly from above seven heavens without inspiration: 
That occurred in the Night Journey of Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Jerusalem and his Ascent to the Seventh Heaven, and Muslims committed to performing them in Makkah, in spite of severity of conditions. 
But, obligatory charity, fasting, and pilgrimage have been made obligatory after migration to AL-Madinah, by the trustworthy of inspiration “Gabriel”.

❷They are personal physical worship:
No one can deputize for a Muslim in performing them, and no ransom is accepted instead of them.

●It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik that the Messenger of Allah said, “Whoever forgets a prayer or sleeps and misses it, let him pray it when he remembers it. There is no expiation for it, except this.” [Muslim].

❸They make a Muslim meet his God five times daily, while fasting makes him meet  God for one month per year. 
Obligatory charity and pilgrimage are performed by the one who is capable of them.

❹A rational adult Muslim is not exempted from them at all, as long as he is alive.
They are lapsed only in the case of a menstruating woman and in confinement. 
In case of illness, a Muslim (a man or a woman) prays the patient’s prayer. 
In case of travel, a Muslim can shorten prayers and combine between them.
In case of war, he prays fear prayer.

●Imran ibn Husain reported: “I had piles, so I asked the Prophet about the prayer. He said, ‘Pray while standing and if you cannot, pray while sitting and if you cannot do even that, then pray lying on your side.’” [AL-Bukhari].

●Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: “Allah has enjoined the prayer on the tongue of your Prophet (P.P.B.U.H): two prayer units (rakᶦatain) for the traveller, four prayer units (rakᶦaat) for the resident, and one prayer unit (rakᶦah) in danger.” [Muslim].

❺They include the five Islam pillars:
 They involve testification, which includes the two testimonies. 
Their performance represents the charity of the day that human lives. 
Also, they include fasting; a Muslim refrains from eating and drinking during their performance. 
Finally, in prayer, a Muslim is heading to Kaᶦbah as other Muslims do when they perform pilgrimage.

❻They are the only pillar that has many forms and types.
 For example:

The five obligated prayers, Friday prayer which is performed in a particular way and under special conditions, regular Sunnah prayers which follow each obligatory prayer, occasions prayers as: the two festivals prayers, funeral prayer, or rain-invoking prayer……etc, and emphasized Sunnah practices (Sunan Muᶦakkadah) like optional   night prayer, forenoon prayer…..etc.

❼They are the only pillar that if a Muslim is lazy in performing it or he forgets it, he will be in the group of hypocrites.
God says ﴾Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily﴿ Chapter of Women.
  
And He says ﴾They have disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and that they come not to prayer except while they are lazy and that they do not spend    except while they are unwilling﴿ Chapter of Repentance.

He also says ﴾So woe to those who pray(4)[But] who are heedless of their prayer﴿(5) Chapter of Neighborly Needs [Surat AL-Maaoon].

❽They are the pillar that if a Muslim leaves it, he will be an unbeliever:

●It was narrated from Buraidah (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (P.P.B.U.H) said, “The covenant that differentiates us from them (the unbelievers) is our performance of prayer. Whoever leaves it becomes an unbeliever.” [AL-Tirmidhi].

●Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (P.P.B.U.H) said: “Between a man and polytheism and disbelief is the abandonment of prayer.” [Muslim].

❾They are the first deed for which a servant of Allah is held accountable on the Day of Judgment.

●It was narrated from Abi-Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (P.P.B.U.H) said, “The first of man’s deeds for which he will be called to account on the Day of Judgment will be prayer. 
If it is found to be perfect, he will be safe and successful; if it is incomplete, he will    be unfortunate and a loser. 
If any shortcoming is found in the obligatory prayer, the Lord (Almighty and Sublime) says: ‘Look and see if you can find any voluntary prayers with which to complete what is lacking from his obligatory prayers.’ Then, the rest of his actions will be treated in the same manner.”   [AL-Tirmidhi].

❿They are the key way leading to Paradise.

●It was narrated from Ibadah ibn AL-Samit that the Prophet said: “Allah (The Almighty and Sublime) has written five prayers for mankind and whoever does them and    does not neglect any of them out of disregard towards them, will have a promise   from Allah that He will admit him to Paradise.” [Abu-Daoud, AL-Nasaᶦi, and Ibn Majah].

●Uthman ibn Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (P.P.B.U.H) saying, “When the time for a prescribed prayer comes, if any  Muslim performs its ablution and its acts of humbleness and bowing well, it will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he has not committed a major sin, and this applies for ever.” [Muslim].

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The Provision of The Abandonment of Prayer

a) If a Muslim abandons prayer denying its obligation and not confessing it, he will be an unbeliever. Prayer is one of the five Islam pillars, so the one who abandons it is      considered an apostate, i.e., he is killed, not washed, not shrouded, not prayed over him, and not buried in Muslim graveyards.

b) If he abandons it due to laziness, but he confesses its obligation, he will be invited to repentance. If he does not perform prayer again, he will be killed and considered a  hypocrite. But he will be dealt as a Muslim, i.e., he will be washed, shrouded, prayed over him and buried in Muslim graveyards.

Read also
Prayer times
Prayer validity conditions, pillars, and Sunan
Things in which a man differs from a woman in prayer
Prostration of forgetfulness
Some notes about prayer
Prayer shortening and combination
Group prayer
Friday prayer (Salat Al-Jumuaa)
Sunnah and Voluntary prayers