Is the prayer of one who does not pray accepted, and is he rewarded for glorifying God, remembering Him, and sending blessings upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him?

The ruling concerning one who abandons prayer falls into two categories:

1. If the abandonment of prayer is due to denial of its obligation, then he is an disbeliever by scholarly consensus. A disbeliever does not benefit from any act of worship or proximity [to Allah]. His supplication may be accepted as a gradual enticement [from Allah] or it may not be accepted.

2. If the abandonment of prayer is due to laziness, while acknowledging its obligation: The majority of scholars hold that he is not a disbeliever, but rather a wicked person who has committed a major sin. Consequently, he benefits from dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and his supplication is answered just like that of a Muslim. Imam Ahmad holds that he is a disbeliever. According to this view, he does not benefit from any act of worship except after repentance.