Fast still valid if I miss prayer

Concern: I want to fast during Ramadan but I don’t pray salah or miss them quite frequently. Is it worth fasting if I don’t pray?

On one hand it feels bad to not pray, but it feels even worse to miss the fast during Ramadan. Should I continue fasting even if I miss the prayer.

In Islam it is quite clear.

Allah has enjoined both the prayer and the fast during the month of Ramadan for the believers. So what is best for you is to offer both the prayer and fasting the twenty nine or thirty days of Ramadan.

If your question is whether missing the salah invalidates or breaks your fast, there is no mention of this. If you miss the prayer out of forgetfulness during the day it is best to quickly make up for it (cover the topic of making up missed prayers here).

But if you’re wondering if there is a choice between choosing one over the other there is no option. The Qur’an clearly mentions both are enjoined for the entire Ummah.

Quran Verse About Keeping Salah and Fasting

“Verily! I am Allah! La ilaha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so worship Me, and perform As-Salat (Iqamat As-Salat) for My Remembrance.” Surah Taha ayah 14.

Surah taha ayah 14 the salah is mandatory

“Establish obligatory prayers. Verily, such prayers are enjoined on the believers at stated times” Surah An Nisa ayah 103

““O you who believe! Observing the fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become righteous.” Surah Al-Baqarah Ayah 183

Can’t Pick and Choose Between Prayer or Fast

The simplest analogy which may help you see the importance of both fasting and keeping salah:

To access the gates of Jannah you will need a key. This key has many teeth and each tooth of the key has to be developed. And guess what, you are the locksmith, if you just forgot to properly develop the key do you think you will be granted access to the door?

In the Sahih Bukhari hadith 553 it warns us against the dangers of missing Salah.

Narrated Abu Al-Mahh [??]: We were with Buraida in a battle on a cloudy day and he said, “Offer the Asr prayer early as the Prophet said, “Whoever leaves the Asr prayer, all his (good) deeds will be annulled.”

CONCLUSION:

We are on this planet for a short period of time. In this time we must perfect what it means to be a Muslim. After the Shahada the second most important pillar is your five obligatory prayer. Whether it is inside or outside Ramadan.

I cannot advise or encourage you that it will be okay if you just do one. Allah has commanded the entire Ummah before you and those who will be here after you to do both. There are no special exceptions.

You are given the free will, if one chooses to just perform the fast without praying Salah then his or her case will be with Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. He alone will make the judgement whether the fast is acceptable or not.

But Allah and The prophet have taught us the significance of the salah Surah Maryam ayat 59-61,

“But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil – Except those who repent, believe and do righteousness; for those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged at all. [Therein are] gardens of perpetual residence which the Most Merciful has promised His servants in the unseen. Indeed, His promise has ever been coming.”