What is the ruling on a pregnant woman who experiences pain during prayer and is not convinced by praying while sitting, abandoning prayer entirely?

Standing is a pillar of the obligatory prayer. Whoever is unable to stand due to illness is permitted to pray sitting, based on the Almighty's saying: (And stand before Allah, devoutly obedient), and the hadith (definition) of 'Imran ibn Husayn: "Pray standing; if you are unable, then sitting; if you are unable, then on your side."

A woman's lack of conviction regarding the obligation to pray sitting is a grave danger to her faith, as the Almighty says: (It is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should [thereafter] have any choice about their affair). Deliberately abandoning prayer is considered disbelief by some scholars, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "The covenant between us and them is prayer; whoever abandons it has disbelieved."

The woman must repent and return to prayer, regretting what has passed, and resolving not to abandon prayer in the future. She must also make up the missed prayers to the best of her ability.