those who deliberately commit major sins and neglect the pillar of Islam.

Prayer is the pillar of Islam. Consider what has been authentically established from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—through more than one route. When he was asked about someone for whom Hajj had become obligatory but who was unable to perform it, or who had vowed to fast or perform Hajj and then died—could it be performed on his behalf?—he replied:

“Suppose your father or mother owed a debt and you paid it: would that not suffice on their behalf?”

The questioner said, “Yes.”

He said:

“Allah (1) has a greater right that what is owed to Him be discharged.” (2)

What he meant was that Allah has a greater right than human beings to accept fulfillment on behalf of someone with a valid excuse, for Allah is more merciful and more generous. If human beings accept payment on behalf of someone who has died, then Allah has an even greater right to accept it. He did not thereby mean that Allah desires the obligations owed to Him by the deceased to be fulfilled, or that they constitute the debt most incumbent to discharge. The heirs are not obligated to pay the deceased’s debt; rather, it is paid from his estate. Nor is anyone obligated to perform a vow that had become binding upon the deceased.

The questioner asked only whether it would suffice and be accepted; he did not ask whether it was obligatory. His question must therefore be answered as asked. Thus, it is known that the command to make up acts of worship, and the acceptance of such make-up performance, belong to the realm of benevolence and mercy (3), which is appropriate for someone with a valid excuse (4). As for one who commits a major sin by deliberately allowing the prayer to lapse (5), he deserves neither alleviation nor mercy; but if he repents, then he has