The Ruling on the One Who Abandons Prayer

Question:
I hope you will answer my question, which is: if the difference between a disbeliever and a believer is abandoning the prayer, does this mean that the one who abandons the prayer is a disbeliever from whom it is not accepted that he carries…

Answer:
This is the correct view. The scholars have differed on this matter. Some scholars say that one does not become a disbeliever except by denying the obligation, such as denying the obligation of zakah, fasting, and the like. The correct view, which is the stronger position, is that one becomes a disbeliever by abandoning it. Even if it is the right of the lesser, it is a stronger attribute. If he abandons it until its time has passed intentionally, he becomes a disbeliever by that, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the authentic collections. Disbelief is a definite term, and shirk (associating partners with Allah) is a definite term, and they are used for major disbelief and major shirk. In the other wording, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said with a sound chain from Buraydah. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them and grant them satisfaction) distinguished between the Muslim and the disbeliever by the abandonment of the prayer. If he abandoned the prayer, they knew that he was a disbeliever. We ask Allah for safety. May Allah reward you with good, Your Eminence.