The answer to those who cite the hadith (And whoever does not guard them… if He wills, He will punish him) as evidence that abandoning prayer does not constitute disbelief?

Question:
The Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, says: It is reported in some hadiths that he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Five prayers: whoever guards them, it is a covenant with Allah that He will admit him to Paradise. And whoever does not guard them, he has no covenant; if He wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He will admit him to Paradise.” Those who hold that one does not become a disbeliever for this cite this as evidence.

Answer:
I heard from Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) that the end of the hadith is not preserved, and that “whoever does not guard them” and what follows it is not preserved from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Only the beginning is preserved: “whoever guards them.” Even if it were authentic, this would be considered among the ambiguous verses, and one would refer to the clear verses in this matter. The clear verses indicate that whoever abandons prayer intentionally becomes a disbeliever. This is the clear text. As for an ambiguous proof coming to us, we do not take it and leave the clear text; this is a rule.