To what extent are the sayings true that whoever abandons prayer will have blessings removed from his life by Allah, that a perpetual darkness will be on his face, that he will not be rewarded for his deeds, that his supplication will not be raised and the supplication of others for him will not be accepted, and that creatures in this world will despise him?

The statements mentioned about the punishment for abandoning prayer are not prophetic traditions (hadith) from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, nor are they sayings of the Companions or their successors. Rather, they are deductions from general texts.

Abandoning prayer is one of the gravest sins, and Muslims have unanimously agreed that it is greater than fornication, theft, drinking alcohol, and murder. Many scholars have even held the view that one who intentionally abandons prayer until its time has passed commits an act of disbelief.

Abandoning prayer erases and diminishes the blessings of one's life. Sins in general, and foremost among them abandoning prayer, shorten life and remove its blessings. Furthermore, abandoning prayer casts a darkness upon the face of the one who neglects it, leads to aversion from people, and results in the non-acceptance of their deeds and supplications. Al-Bukhari narrated that whoever misses the 'Asr prayer, their deeds are annulled. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also informed us that the first thing a servant will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgment is their prayer; if it is sound, all their other deeds will be sound, and if it is corrupt, all their other deeds will be corrupt.

Supplication is not accepted from a heedless and distracted heart. As for the non-acceptance of supplication made by others on behalf of one who does not pray, there is no evidence for this; rather, the supplication of righteous people for them may be a cause for their guidance.