The Ruling on the One Who Abandons Prayer and the Fatwa of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim

Question:
Well, Allah the Exalted said: Does this verse indicate that the one who abandons prayer is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah)? And what is the authenticity of the fatwa (scholarly legal ruling) attributed to Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him), in which he states that the one who abandons prayer or delays it past its time because he was watching television is a mushrik? Please inform us; may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, says: "Who divided their religion." The intent of this warning against division in religion is that every sect inclines toward a madhhab (school of jurisprudence) other than what Allah has prescribed for His servants. Therefore, it is obligatory to unite on what Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has prescribed, and to adhere to His Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law), whether one is Arab or non-Arab. It is required that they adhere to it and unite upon it, and not divide as the mushrikin (those who associate partners with Allah) divided. There is no doubt that abandoning prayer is a type of division. If one abandons prayer, he has divided the community of Muslims; he is in one part and they are in another. For this reason, a group of scholars of knowledge, and this is the view of the Salaf (the earliest generations) from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), stated that he is a kafir (disbeliever). We ask Allah for safety. It is well known from the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that the one who abandons prayer is a disbeliever. Abdullah ibn Shaqiq al-Qurashi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The Companions did not consider anything to be kufr (disbelief) except abandoning prayer." It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: , and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Between a man and kufr and shirk (associating partners with Allah) is abandoning prayer." Therefore, abandoning it is major shirk according to the most precise scholars of knowledge. We ask Allah for safety.
As for our Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him), I do not recall the specific fatwa mentioned, but if one delays it past its time intentionally until the time has gone, such as delaying Fajr (the dawn prayer) until the sun rises, or delaying 'Asr (the afternoon prayer) until the sun sets, or delaying 'Isha' (the night prayer) until Fajr breaks, that is kufr (disbelief). We ask Allah for safety, if it is done intentionally. But if it is due to forgetfulness or sleep, that is a matter of qada' (making up a missed act of worship) and haste. However, if one intentionally abandons prayer, that is major kufr according to a group of scholars of knowledge, and they cited as evidence the authentic hadiths that you have heard. Other scholars of knowledge said that it is kufr less than major kufr, greater than zina (unlawful sexual intercourse), greater than marriage [without proper contract], and greater than 'uquq (undutifulness to parents), but it is kufr less than kufr, not major kufr. The correct view is that it is major kufr. We ask Allah for safety. Yes.