What are the consequences for someone who abandoned prayer for a period and now wishes to return to it? Is it obligatory for them to make up the prayers they missed, and how does repentance occur?

Prayer holds a great status in Islam; it is the second pillar after the Two Testimonies. Severe warnings have been established for those who are negligent with it or abandon it. One must promptly repent to Allah Almighty for abandoning prayer and commit to performing it regularly. The majority of scholars hold the view that all missed prayers must be made up, whether they were missed intentionally or due to forgetfulness, until one is reasonably certain of having discharged their obligation. However, some scholars are of the opinion that one who abandons prayer due to laziness is not enjoined to make it up; rather, they should increase in supererogatory prayers and repent to Allah.