Prayer (ṣalāh), which is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam, is obligatory (farḍ) upon every Muslim. It is described as the pillar of religion, the essence and foundation of acts of worship, and one of the most important means by which a person draws near to Allah—its spiritual origin being linked to the Miʿrāj.
Although neglecting the prayer constitutes a grave sin, it is not, in itself, a specific condition (sharṭ) for the validity of the fast. Therefore, the fast observed by a person who does not perform the prayer remains legally valid (ṣaḥīḥ). Prayer and fasting are distinct acts of worship and entail separate legal obligations.