Is it permissible to abandon a good deed - an obligatory one such as prayer - due to not having the intention for it?

It is not permissible to abandon good deeds, such as prayers, due to a lack of intention. This is a whisper from Satan that must be fought by increasing acts of worship. For a good deed to be valid, two conditions must be met: following the Prophet, peace be upon him, and sincerity towards Allah the Almighty. Allah says: "So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do righteous work and not associate anyone with the worship of his Lord." Al-Fudayl ibn Iyad explained that abandoning a deed for the sake of people is hypocrisy, and doing a deed for their sake is polytheism. Sincerity is the way to be free from both.