Question Summary:
I want to start praying Salāh. What should I do?

Question Detail:

I am a 20 year old male, who was born and raised a Muslim alhamdulillah. However I am having a problem. I used to pray and offer salah but eventually I stopped about 1-2 years ago. Now that it is Ramadan and I am fasting, I have this urge to start praying again and start taking it seriously but I have realised I would need to sacrifice a lot.
As I am at university, the type of friends I am with are very nice and trustworthy guys but those who would often go for a drink, or out for a night to a club, etc. If I were to start offering salah again, I would want to take it 100% seriously cause it is no joke to play around with. But I feel I would have to restrict myself from doing those things which in turn could jeopardise my friendship as I wouldn't be socialising with them as much anymore like I normally would.
Could I get any advice from you on what i should do to convince me? Because salah is something that I know I cannot stop if I start, and I want to know if I'm ready to take that challenge and not break it down the line. 

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
At the outset, it is important to understand that nothing in this world is attained without some effort or sacrifice. For example, if one desires to drink milk, he must first work and earn money. Thereafter, he must go to the market and purchase the milk.
Similar is the case with regards to the everlasting Akhirah (Hereafter). If one wishes to earn Jannah (Paradise), a place where each and every desire of an individual will be fulfilled, then he must make an effort to obey the commands of Allāh Ta’ālā and refrain from the disobedience of Allāh Ta’ālā.. Regarding Jannah, Allāh Ta’ālā states in the Qurān:
وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنْفُسُكُمْ (سورة حم السجدة، رقم الآية31)
And for you in Jannah will be whatever your hearts desire. (Sūrah HāMīm as-Sajdah, Verse 31)
 
The first and most essential command of Allāh Ta’ālā after Imān (Faith in Allāh) is Salāh (prayer). A Muslim is commanded to perform five times Salāh daily. It is a major sin to miss even one Salāh out of its prescribed time. There are severe warnings mentioned in Hadīth for one who discards Salāh. Consider the following Hadīth:
سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّ بَيْنَ الرَّجُلِ وَبَيْنَ الشِّرْكِ وَالْكُفْرِ تَرْكَ الصَّلَاةِ» (صحيح مسلم،  بَابُ بَيَانِ إِطْلَاقِ اسْمِ الْكُفْرِ عَلَى مَنْ تَرَكَ الصَّلَاةَ)
Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam said, “The barrier between an individual and Kufr (disbelief) is the discarding of Salāh.” (Sahīh Muslim)
 
 
Regarding the one who performs five times daily Salāh on time, Allāh Ta’ālā will grant him entry into Jannah. Consider the following Hadīth:
 
قالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " خَمْسٌ مَنْ جَاءَ بِهِنَّ مَعَ إِيمَانٍ بِاللَّهِ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ (رواه الطبرانى فى المعجم الصغير كذا فى الترغيب، ج 2، ص 56، المكتب الإسلامي , دار عمار - بيروت , عمان)
Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam said, “Whosoever performs his 5 times Salāh with Belief in Allāh will enter Jannah. (al-Mu’jam as-Saghīr) 
 
Our advice to you is that you stay in the company of good and righteous people. Search for friends who are conscious of Allāh Ta’ālā and who refrain from the disobedience of Allāh. Do not keep the friendship of those who are involved in evil and corrupt habits, even though they may appear good in character. Otherwise, the evil habits of your associates may rub off on you and have a negative impact on your life. Consider the following Hadīth:
 
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: «الرَّجُلُ عَلَى دِينِ خَلِيلِهِ، فَلْيَنْظُرْ أَحَدُكُمْ مَنْ يُخَالِلُ» (سنن أبى داود، بَابُ مَنْ يُؤْمَرُ أَنْ يُجَالِسَ)
Rasūlullāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam said, “Man is on the religion (way of life) of his friend. Hence, each one of you should consider carefully who you will befriend. (Sunan Abī Dāwūd)
 
 
Keep in mind that this is the month of Ramadhān, a month that brings with it the Mercy and Forgiveness of Allāh Ta’ālā. This is a perfect opportunity for you to repent from past mistakes and bring a complete change into your life.
 
Note that you must also make an effort to make up all missed prayers after reaching puberty.
 
We ask Allāh Ta’ālā to grant you steadfastness upon the right path. Amīn.
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Abdul Azīm bin Abdur Rahman,

U.S.A.
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.