If one commits forbidden acts and persists in them, should he abandon the congregational prayer?
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Fatwa number ( 12714 )
Q: There is a brother in Islam who prays the five obligatory prayers in the mosque, but he commits sins and mistakes, and his faith is weak, yet he commits these mistakes. He asked a brother other than me, and the man told him: If you commit these mistakes, do not pray. That is, he told him to choose either to pray or to abandon prayer because of these mistakes. When he asked me, I told him: No matter what mistakes you commit, do not abandon the congregational prayer, for Allah may forgive you these sins when you pray and increase in supplication. These mistakes are like failing to lower the gaze and the like. However, to be honest, I do not know if this answer is wrong or right. I said that to him so that he would not abandon prayer. I ask for an answer to this, and I want him to see the answer so that he is convinced by it?
A: You did well in advising your Muslim brother to continue performing the prayer in congregation and to be consistent with it, no matter what mistakes he commits. If the sins are minor, such as failing to lower the gaze, the five daily prayers, the Friday prayer, seeking forgiveness, and the like expiate them. If they are major sins, such as theft and unlawful sexual intercourse, they are expiated by sincere repentance.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Q: There is a brother in Islam who prays the five obligatory prayers in the mosque, but he commits sins and mistakes, and his faith is weak, yet he commits these mistakes. He asked a brother other than me, and the man told him: If you commit these mistakes, do not pray. That is, he told him to choose either to pray or to abandon prayer because of these mistakes. When he asked me, I told him: No matter what mistakes you commit, do not abandon the congregational prayer, for Allah may forgive you these sins when you pray and increase in supplication. These mistakes are like failing to lower the gaze and the like. However, to be honest, I do not know if this answer is wrong or right. I said that to him so that he would not abandon prayer. I ask for an answer to this, and I want him to see the answer so that he is convinced by it?
A: You did well in advising your Muslim brother to continue performing the prayer in congregation and to be consistent with it, no matter what mistakes he commits. If the sins are minor, such as failing to lower the gaze, the five daily prayers, the Friday prayer, seeking forgiveness, and the like expiate them. If they are major sins, such as theft and unlawful sexual intercourse, they are expiated by sincere repentance.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.