The Ruling on Associating with One Who Abandons Prayer
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Question:
He is a young man who is committed to obeying Allah (Mighty and Majestic), but he has brothers with him, and they live in the same house. However, they are negligent regarding the prayer to the extent that they abandon it and do not pray it. What is obligatory for him in this situation, and should he continue to live with them in the house or not?
Answer:
If a man is among brothers who do not pray while he is praying, or among the sons of his brothers or others, then it is obligatory for him to rebuke them, guide them to what is good, and strive for the means of their rectification. This is based on the saying of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He:[Ali 'Imran 3:110] and His saying, Glorified and Exalted is He: [At-Tawbah 9:71] and the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 49a So he commands them to do what is right; he commands them to pray, and to pray in congregation. If he is able to discipline them as he would his children, he disciplines them, based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): "And strike with us the ten [years]." He also seeks help for this from Allah, then from his paternal uncles, maternal uncles, and other good people among his neighbors, so that they cooperate with him in righteousness and piety in advising these foolish people.
Until they become upright in their religion. If they do not become upright, he refers the matter to the Commission, if there is a Commission or a court in his country. As for if he is in a country where there is no one to help him, he leaves them and does not keep their company. If they do not accept the advice, he leaves them, does not mix with them, and does not be their companion. Rather, he moves away from them to another place. If they do not accept his call and do not benefit from it, he fears that they will drag him into their falsehood. So let him distance himself from them and pray for their rectification and guidance. As for if he is in a country that establishes the command of Allah, as in the Kingdom, he refers them to the Commission or the court so that the command of Allah is established against them. They are given the opportunity to repent; if they repent, otherwise they are killed. The one who does not pray is given the opportunity to repent; if he repents, otherwise he is killed. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said[At-Tawbah 9:5], which indicates that the one who does not perform the prayer is not let go. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "I was forbidden to kill those who pray," which indicates that the one who does not pray deserves to be killed. He is given the opportunity to repent; if he repents, otherwise he is killed as a disbeliever. We ask Allah for safety.
He is a young man who is committed to obeying Allah (Mighty and Majestic), but he has brothers with him, and they live in the same house. However, they are negligent regarding the prayer to the extent that they abandon it and do not pray it. What is obligatory for him in this situation, and should he continue to live with them in the house or not?
Answer:
If a man is among brothers who do not pray while he is praying, or among the sons of his brothers or others, then it is obligatory for him to rebuke them, guide them to what is good, and strive for the means of their rectification. This is based on the saying of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He:
You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.
كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِThe believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِHe who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith.
مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الإِيمَانِUntil they become upright in their religion. If they do not become upright, he refers the matter to the Commission, if there is a Commission or a court in his country. As for if he is in a country where there is no one to help him, he leaves them and does not keep their company. If they do not accept the advice, he leaves them, does not mix with them, and does not be their companion. Rather, he moves away from them to another place. If they do not accept his call and do not benefit from it, he fears that they will drag him into their falsehood. So let him distance himself from them and pray for their rectification and guidance. As for if he is in a country that establishes the command of Allah, as in the Kingdom, he refers them to the Commission or the court so that the command of Allah is established against them. They are given the opportunity to repent; if they repent, otherwise they are killed. The one who does not pray is given the opportunity to repent; if he repents, otherwise he is killed. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said
And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way
فَإِذَا انسَلَخَ الْأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ وَاقْعُدُوا لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ فَإِن تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُمْ
Source
فتاوى الصلاة — islamhouse.com (40:46)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.