I'm Algerian and I live in London for 6 years, I was a good Muslim and I love Allah and fear Him but for about 3 months I have not done my Salat (prayer). I know it is forbidden and it's a big sin but I want to make Salat and I can't, I cry and I make Du'a to Allah for help I don't know what's happening to me. I want to be a good Muslim again. Please, advice me and Allah will help you.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Allah informed us in His Book that Satan is the enemy of man. He tries to lead him astray from the true religion.

Allah Says (what means):

•        {Indeed Satan, to man, is a manifest enemy.} [Quran 12:5]

•        {Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy. He only invites his party to be among the companions of the Blaze.} [Quran 35:6]

Satan does not come directly to the person and order him to become a Kaafir (a disbeliever) without introductions. On the contrary, Satan works in a step-by-step progress in trying to convince the Muslim to become a Kafir. He takes the person from a minor sin to a major one, little by little, until he orders the person to give up praying.

Allah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps of Satan. And whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing.} [Quran 24:21]

The best way to defeat Satan is to adhere to Islam truly by abiding by Allah's Orders and those of Prophet Muhammad . This can only be done with firm resolution and strong will. The most important things to do are:

1) Performing the prayer in congregation immediately and without delay. In fact, the prayer is the backbone of Islam. The Prophet said: “The covenant between us and them is the prayer, whoever gives it up becomes a Kaafir.”

2) Seeking forgiveness as much as possible and repenting to Allah form all sins.

3) Earnestly supplicating Allah and choosing the best time when the supplication is most likely to be responded to, like the last-third part of the night, the period between Athaan and Iqamah, and while it is raining.

4) Keeping company with pious friends because they will help the person to be obedient to Allah. The Prophet said: “Keep to the Muslim group and community. Indeed, the wolf eats only the sheep that stays away from the herd.” [Ahmad]

5) Leaving the country of disbelief (Britain) to a Muslim country. The Prophet said: “Whoever socializes with the polytheist and lives with him, he is like them.” [Abu Dawood] If you cannot leave Britain, get out of London and go to cities where there are big communities of Muslims like Leister, Birmingham, Sheffield …etc. where Islamic lectures and lessons are given very often.

6) Listening to cassettes and lectures that admonish you and call you to do good.

These are some of the steps that you should follow and we hope that Allah will guide you to the right path.

Allah Says (what means): {Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.} [Quran 39:53]

However, according to the view of the majority of scholars, you should make up all the prayers that you had missed to perform.

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 81555, 83724, 294403, and 356338.

Allah knows best.