Is the statement that abandoning prayer is disbelief a correct statement?

The questioner:
The questioner says: I have a colleague who shares a room with me, and he does not pray. When I speak to him and advise him, he gets angry about it and says that Allah will forgive me even if I do not pray.

The Shaykh:
We ask Allah for safety.

The questioner:
So I tell him that this action of yours is disbelief. He asks: Is my statement correct?

The Shaykh:
Yes, your statement that the one who persists in abandoning prayer is undoubtedly disbelief is correct. If he persists in abandoning it, he is a disbeliever. Whoever intentionally abandons a prayer, whoever intentionally abandons a prayer, is ruled to be a disbeliever. This is because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) only said: "Whoever forgets a prayer or sleeps through it, let him pray it when he remembers it." As for the one who intentionally abandons it, who did not forget it and did not sleep through it, but intentionally abandoned it, he becomes a disbeliever. Yes.

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. The questioner asks: Which right is greater?

The Shaykh:
(peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Between the servant and disbelief and shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the abandonment of prayer." He said: "The covenant between us and them is prayer; whoever abandons it has committed disbelief." Yes.