He says: My sister fasts some days of Ramadan but does not pray. Does zakat al-fitr (the alms given at the end of Ramadan) come out of her?

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. The questioner says: I am from Russia, and my sister fasts some days of Ramadan but does not pray. So, do I give zakat al-fitr (the alms given at the end of Ramadan) on her behalf?

The Shaykh:
The one who does not pray is not a Muslim, and his zakah (the obligatory alms) is not valid. The one who does not pray: prayer is prior to zakah.

The questioner:
As he says, may Allah preserve you, he says: My father does not fast. So, do I also give zakat al-fitr (the alms given at the end of Ramadan) on his behalf?

The Shaykh:
He intentionally leaves fasting because he believes it is not obligatory. If he says fasting is not obligatory, he is a disbeliever. But if he leaves it out of laziness, he is not a disbeliever, but he is required to fast. The one in authority must compel him, and you must be firm with him, admonish him, and advise him. But he is not a disbeliever, and zakah (the obligatory alms) is obligatory upon him. Yes.