I do not pray regularly. I feel extremely upset when I abandon prayers. What should I do to adhere to performing prayers? Please note that there are many influences and distractions including media and satellite channels.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

We ask Allaah The Almighty to Amend our affairs and the affairs of all Muslims, Guide us and you to what He Loves and what pleases Him and Preserve us and you from what displeases Him. Know that prayer has a great status in the Sight of Allaah The Almighty and its importance in the religion is known to every Muslim.

Allaah The Exalted Says (what means):

·        {Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allaah, devoutly obedient.} [Quran 2:238]

·        {Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.} [Quran 4:103]

·        {But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil.} [Quran 19:59]

The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "(Nothing stands) between the slave and disbelief except abandoning prayer." [Al-Bayhaqi and Ibn Hibbaan]

He also said: "The covenant that is between us and them (i.e. the hypocrites) [that prevents us from killing them] is [that they perform] prayer. Anyone who abandons it is a disbeliever." [At-Tirmithi, An-Nasaa’i and Ibn Maajah]

Abu Ad-Dardaa’, may Allaah Be Pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Do not abandon an obligatory prayer. Whoever deliberately abandons it is deprived of the sanctity, rights and protection of the Muslims." [Ibn Maajah and others] There are many other Hadeeths that emphasize the status of prayer and threaten those who abandon or neglect it.

You should, dear brother, ponder on these verses, and consider these Hadeeths with certitude and belief in them. You should continue to ask Allaah to Inspire you with guidance, Help you against yourself and Guide you to perform what He Imposed upon you and keep you away from what displeases Him.

Keep away from bad companions and evil gatherings. Man is certainly affected by his companions and friends. That is why the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "The example of a good companion (who sits with you) in comparison with a bad one, is like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith's bellows (or furnace); from the first you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell while the bellows would either burn your clothes, or you get a bad nasty smell thereof."  [Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Moosa]

Stay away, dear brother, from the media and satellite channels as they contain great evil and distract one from mentioning Allaah The Almighty.

Allaah Knows best.