What is the ruling on breaking the fast in Ramadan and praying after having stopped doing so for nearly four years? Is expiation (qada') obligatory? And how can we financially support our brothers in Syria?

Intentionally breaking the fast in Ramadan without a valid excuse is among the major sins and necessitates repentance and making up for the missed fast. However, it does not constitute disbelief unless the perpetrator deems it permissible. If the questioner has not been performing prayers during this period, then abandoning prayer is a greater sin, and he must make up for the missed prayers if he abandoned them out of laziness and not out of denial of their obligation. As for helping those in need, it is done by sending money to them through available means, along with supplicating for them.