Can one who abandons prayer abandon sin, or is it impossible for him no matter how hard he tries, simply because he does not pray? And does seeking forgiveness benefit one who abandons prayer, with the intention of praying?

Neglecting prayer is a grave sin, and some scholars consider it an act of disbelief that expels one from the fold of Islam, while the majority view is that it is not disbelief unless one denies its obligation. Sins, as Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned, beget similar sins and hinder one from acts of obedience, leading to the deprivation of good deeds and the firm establishment of evil within the soul. Seeking forgiveness while persisting in sin is considered a form of mockery and falsehood.