“O believers! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and do not let your deeds be in vain.” Quran 47:33

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. We testify that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger.

First, it is important to understand that in Islam, prayer is not a minor act of worship. It is one of the pillars upon which a Muslim’s faith stands. Because of this, neglecting prayer is a very serious matter in the sight of Allah.

The scholars differ on the ruling of someone who abandons prayer out of laziness. Some scholars hold that such a person has left Islam, while others say he remains a Muslim but has committed a major and dangerous sin. Because of this difference, the acceptance of other good deeds like charity becomes a matter of Allah’s judgment based on the person’s faith and sincerity.

The Qur’an makes it clear that deeds are not accepted from those who reject faith. Allah states that spending or doing good deeds is not accepted from people who disbelieve in Him and His Messenger: “Say, O Prophet, ‘Whether you donate willingly or unwillingly, it will never be accepted from you, for you have been a rebellious people.’ And what prevented their donations from being accepted is that they have lost faith in Allah and His Messenger, they never come to prayer except half-heartedly, and they never donate except resentfully.” Surah At-Tawbah 9:53–54. This shows that acceptance of deeds is closely tied to faith.

However, the Qur’an also emphasizes that Allah does not waste the reward of good deeds done sincerely by believers. Allah says that He does not let the reward of those who do good be lost: “And be patient; for indeed, Allah never lets the reward of those who do good go to waste.” Surah Hud 11:115. This gives hope that charity done sincerely for Allah may still be accepted, especially according to the view that the person remains within Islam.

At the same time, Islam strongly warns against neglecting prayer. The Qur’an describes those who abandon prayer and follow their desires as facing severe punishment “They were succeeded by a people who neglected the prayers and pursued their lusts. They shall presently meet with their doom. ” Surah Maryam 19:59. It also describes Hellfire in terrifying terms for those who are heedless of their obligations. “And what will make you realize what Hell is? It does not let anyone live or die.” Surah Al-Muddathir 74:27–28

Therefore, the most important advice is not to rely on charity while neglecting prayer. Rather, the correct approach is to combine both: return sincerely to regular prayer and continue giving charity for the sake of Allah. Prayer is the foundation, and without it, other deeds lose their strength and protection.

At the same time, do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy. Whoever sincerely repents and returns to Him will find Him Most Forgiving and Most Merciful. The door of repentance is always open, and a true return to Allah includes both abandoning sin and restoring worship.

So the message is simple: do not delay your prayers. Begin again, stay consistent, and continue doing good deeds with sincerity. That combination is what brings success in this life and the next.

And Allah knows best. We pray He guide us through the right path and not the path of those whom He has bestowed His anger.