Question
Dear respected Shaykh, assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. What is the ruling of the fasting of person who sleeps through the time of Zuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, ‘Isha and performs all these prayers at the same time at midnight. The person does not perform a compulsory prayer at its time except for Fajr and ‘Isha sometimes. What is your advice in this situation?
ينام عن معظم الصلوات فما حكم صيامه؟
Answer
Praise be to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and his companions. Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As to what follows: In response to your question, we say: The person’s fasting is valid. However, he should strive to perform the prayers at their fixed times. Allah the Exalted said, “Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah , devoutly obedient” [al-Baqarah: 238]. Allah the Exalted also said, “Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours” [An-Nisaa‘: 103]. Whoever prays after the fixed time goes under verse which states “ So woe to those who pray. [But] who are heedless of their prayer [al-Ma’un: 4-5]. The fast of such a person is reduced in reward because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink" [al-Bukhari (6057)]. Delaying prayers is one of the greatest evil deeds. Thus, the person who is doing so should fear Allah and pray at the fixed times. Dr. Khalid al-Mosleh 15/12/1424
Praise be to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and his companions. Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As to what follows: In response to your question, we say: The person’s fasting is valid. However, he should strive to perform the prayers at their fixed times. Allah the Exalted said, “Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah , devoutly obedient” [al-Baqarah: 238]. Allah the Exalted also said, “Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours” [An-Nisaa‘: 103]. Whoever prays after the fixed time goes under verse which states “ So woe to those who pray. [But] who are heedless of their prayer [al-Ma’un: 4-5]. The fast of such a person is reduced in reward because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink" [al-Bukhari (6057)]. Delaying prayers is one of the greatest evil deeds. Thus, the person who is doing so should fear Allah and pray at the fixed times. Dr. Khalid al-Mosleh 15/12/1424
