said:

“Whoever combines two prayers without a valid excuse has entered one of the gates of major sins.”

He attributed this to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, although that attribution is open to question. Al-Tirmidhī said: “This is the practice followed by the scholars.” The report is well known, and scholars have cited it approvingly, not rejecting it.

In the Sahīh, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever misses the afternoon prayer, his deeds have come to nothing.”

Such a warning—that one’s deeds will come to nothing—is given only for the gravest major sins. Moreover, missing the afternoon prayer is more serious than missing any other prayer, for it is the middle prayer, singled out by the command to observe it diligently. It was prescribed for those before us, but they neglected it; whoever observes it diligently will therefore receive twice the reward. It was also this prayer that Solomon missed, whereupon he did what he did to the horses.

It is also narrated in the Sahīh that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever misses the afternoon prayer, it is as though he has been bereft of his family and wealth.”

Someone bereft of his family and wealth is left deprived, with neither family nor wealth to benefit him. His condition is like that of someone whose deeds have come to nothing.

Furthermore, Allah Most High says:

“So woe to those who pray—those who, with regard to their prayer,