The position regarding a person with a mental illness who abandons prayer and speaks to his parents with ugly words

Question:
May Allah reward you, Shaykh. Honorable Shaykh, this sister, Intissam, says to me: My brother has a mental illness and also suffers from depression, and he can barely bear himself. These mental illnesses have afflicted him since childhood until they became severe. Sometimes he speaks to my father and mother with ugly words and abandons some of the prayers. What is our position toward him? And is it permissible for him to abandon prayer?

Answer:
It is obligatory for you to take care of him and deal with him gradually, with gentleness, for he is afflicted as you mentioned. He should not be left to not pray; rather, he is to be commanded to pray and reminded of it. Explain it to him. As for his uttering of obscene words when he is angry, he is not to be held accountable for that. Be patient with him, meet him with kindness and softness, and raise him to goodness. Be patient with him; patience is necessary, and gradualness in matters is necessary, along with gentleness toward him, because he is afflicted and has a deficiency. It is obligatory for you to consider these matters, be kind to him, be gentle with him, teach him gradually, and remind him not to abandon prayer, but this should be done with gentleness and softness, not with violence and harshness. Yes.