I really don't know how to start, I have problem that I miss my daily Salat. I have problem with controlling my Nafs. I have been divorce for two years now. I'm student at the moment. I'm having this problem for quite long time. I do not watch porno movies neither I watch porno on website. I wear Hijaab and I don't go out or have friends who are talk about guys and porno stuff. Either I masturbate or anything which I know it is Haraam in Islam. But I realize I miss my Salat daily cause of this problem I can't control my Nafs. I'm really getting worried now, I get panic attack I keep asking myself questions, I'm I not Muslim anymore or what. I love Allaah and His beloved Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, so much, but my problem causing me problem for my Salat. Help me dear Brother and Sister in Islam what should I do to stop this problem. Also I know I have to fast to control my Nafs but still I'm having problem. I miss my Salat a lot. Please I need help and help me. May Allaah bless you and your family Ameen. I am looking forward your reply. Thanks a lot keep up the good work.

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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

First of all, you should know, dear sister, that the prayer is the greatest pillar of Islam after the two testimonies of faith. A person who abandons the prayer or delays it from its prescribed fixed time [without a valid reason] is threatened to enter Hellfire and he has committed a very serious sin. Allaah Says (what means): {But there has succeeded them a prosperity who have given up prayers [i.e. made their prayers to be lost either by not offering them or by not offering them perfectly or by not offering them in their proper fixed times] and have followed desires; so they will be thrown in Hellfire.}[Quran 19:59]. Ibn Mas'ood interpreted the Arabic word Ghay [being thrown in Hell] by a deep well in Hellfire with a very bad taste. Allaah further Says (what means): {So woe to those who perform the prayer. Those who delay their prayer from their stated fixed time.}[Quran 107:4-5].

The best things which help one to preserve the prayer are the following:

1-     To invoke Allaah earnestly. Allaah Says (what means): {And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you.}[Quran 40:60]. So supplicate Allaah as much as possible to help you preserve and perform the prayers.

2-     To realize the threat and danger of abandoning the prayer or delaying it. The matter is very serious as abandoning the prayer is an act that takes the person out of the fold of Islam as per Fatwa 84235 and delaying it is one of the characteristics of the hypocrites. Whoever abandons the prayer, he has cut the relationship with his Lord as mentioned in Fatwa 81555.

3-     To realize the excellence of the prayer and its importance and status in religion, and to think about the reward or virtue that one gets by preserving it. Performing the prayer is a light for the person, and it is the first thing a person will be accounted for on the Day of Judgement. If the prayer is sound, all other actions will be sound, and if the prayer is not sound, all other actions will not be accepted. Indeed the prayer wipes out the sins and prevents a person from doing all kinds of evil and bad things.

4-     To keep company with righteous women who would remind you of Allaah if you sin, and advise you and incite you to do good.

Finally, please refer to Fataawa 84332 and 83868 on the procedures to take in order to avoid abandoning or neglecting the prayer.

Allaah Knows best.