case, prayer does not take its performer further away from Allah. Rather, someone who prays is better than someone who does not, and closer to Allah, even if he is sinful.

However, Ibn ʿAbbās said:

“You have only that portion of your prayer of which you were mindful.”

The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“A servant may finish his prayer with only half of it recorded for him, or a third, or a quarter,” until he said, “or a tenth.”

When a person performs prayer as commanded, it restrains him from indecency and wrongdoing. If it does not restrain him, this indicates that he is neglecting its due requirements, even though he is acting in obedience. Allah Most High said:

“But there came after them successors who neglected prayer”—to the end of the verse.

Neglecting prayer means failing to fulfil its obligatory requirements, even if one performs it. And Allah knows best.”

He was asked:

Concerning the words of Allah Most High:

“Do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated.”

If a man drinks wine and prays while intoxicated, is his prayer valid or not?

He replied:

The prayer of an intoxicated person who does not know what he is saying is invalid, by agreement. Indeed, he must not even be allowed to enter the mosque, in view of this verse and other evidence, for the prohibition concerns both approaching prayer and approaching places of prayer. And Allah knows best.