We have an elderly, disabled neighbor who does not fast or pray, even before his disability, and up to now. He is a wicked man who transgresses against people and speaks ill of them.
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The questioner : We have an elderly, disabled neighbor who does not fast or pray, even before his disability, and up to now. He is a wicked man who transgresses against people and speaks ill of them. Knowing that his mind is sound, he asks us and others to help him, and asks them for food. Do we have to give it to him, or what? Knowing that he does not accept advice. Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : If this man is as the questioner described him, not praying and not fasting, then he has no sanctity, and it is not befitting for us to assist him with anything he asks for, such as food, drink, clothing, or otherwise. This is because the ruling for one who apostatizes from Islam is that he is called to Islam. If he responds and repents to Allah the Exalted from his apostasy, it is accepted from him, and he has what Muslims have, and upon him is what is upon Muslims. If he refuses and persists in his apostasy, then it is obligatory that he be killed. In the case of his killing for apostasy, it is not permissible to wash him, shroud him, pray over him, bury him with Muslims, or supplicate for him with mercy and forgiveness, because he is not among those deserving of mercy and forgiveness. For Allah the Exalted says:[Al-Baqarah 2:217].
As for if this man is wicked and aggressive toward people, but nothing has occurred from him that necessitates apostasy, then the public benefit is considered. If the public benefit requires that he be assisted with some matters, he is assisted. If the public benefit does not require that, he is not assisted. It is obligatory for the authorities to deter the people of evil and corruption from their evil and corruption, so that the affairs of people are set right, and chaos does not occur in their society.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : If this man is as the questioner described him, not praying and not fasting, then he has no sanctity, and it is not befitting for us to assist him with anything he asks for, such as food, drink, clothing, or otherwise. This is because the ruling for one who apostatizes from Islam is that he is called to Islam. If he responds and repents to Allah the Exalted from his apostasy, it is accepted from him, and he has what Muslims have, and upon him is what is upon Muslims. If he refuses and persists in his apostasy, then it is obligatory that he be killed. In the case of his killing for apostasy, it is not permissible to wash him, shroud him, pray over him, bury him with Muslims, or supplicate for him with mercy and forgiveness, because he is not among those deserving of mercy and forgiveness. For Allah the Exalted says:
And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever - for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire, they will abide therein eternally.
وَمَنْ يَرْتَدِدْ مِنْكُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِ فَيَمُتْ وَهُوَ كَافِرٌ فَأُوْلَئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ وَأُوْلَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَAs for if this man is wicked and aggressive toward people, but nothing has occurred from him that necessitates apostasy, then the public benefit is considered. If the public benefit requires that he be assisted with some matters, he is assisted. If the public benefit does not require that, he is not assisted. It is obligatory for the authorities to deter the people of evil and corruption from their evil and corruption, so that the affairs of people are set right, and chaos does not occur in their society.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.