What is the Islamic opinion if one fasts but does not pray?

Answer

Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.

Performing the prayers and fasting are two of the five pillars of Islam. Ibn Omar reported Allah’s messenger who said: “Islam is built on five things: the testimony that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the observance of the prayer, the payment of zakat, the pilgrimage, and the fast during Ramadan.” Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Therefore, ignoring the prayer and not performing it could be either because of laziness or intentionally denying it. All scholars agree that whoever leaves it intentionally disbelieving of it and its importance is considered to be a disbeliever.

However, there are different views related to who leaves it because of laziness.

Abu Hanifa sees that whoever does not pray as they are lazy to do so is not a disbeliever, but they must be imprisoned till they pray.

Malik and al-Shafi’i see that whoever does not pray as they are lazy is not a disbeliever, but must be killed as a sort of prescribed punishment as long as they do not pray.

Ahmad Ibn Hanbal sees that whoever does not pray as they are lazy is considered to be a disbeliever and must be killed as it is considered apostasy. 

Taking into account the previous opinions, what is the ruling if one fasts but does not pray?

If we adopt the opinion which says that whoever does not pray is a disbeliever, then, their fast is invalid as their deeds are not accepted. However, if they come to their reason and come back to Islam and observe the prayer, they do not need to make up fasting. Allah says: “Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief) their past will be forgiven” Al-Anfal: 38

If we adopt the other opinion which says that whoever does not pray remains a Muslim, their fast is valid as long as they do no take any substance which breaks it.