The ruling on one who abandons prayer due to a mental illness

Question:
May Allah reward you with good and do you well. If a person is afflicted with a mental illness and that illness persists with him for a long period, and during his illness, as a result of the condition, he does not care for himself, does not work, and does not leave the house, and he is asked why he does not perform the prayer, and he says, “I am unable to; my condition is such and such,” is he in the state described, like those who are healthy? May Allah reward you with good and do you well.

Answer:
There is a distinction here. If he does not have his mind, if his mind and thinking are disordered and he has become unable to distinguish between matters, then the obligation of religious duties is lifted from him. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The pen is lifted from three,” and he mentioned among them the insane person until he regains his senses. This is like the insane person, in that both share the loss of mind, which is the basis for religious obligation. However, if he has his mind and thinking and abandons the prayer intentionally, then he has no excuse, and he is ruled to be a disbeliever because he abandoned the prayer intentionally while he is sane and has his thinking. The sick person who is able to pray and understands the prayer is required to pray according to his condition. The prayer is not lifted from the sick person; rather, he prays according to his condition. Or, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the sick person: “Pray standing, and if you cannot, then sitting, and if you cannot, then on your side.” In a narration, it says, “And if you cannot, then lying on your back.” This indicates that illness is not an excuse for the dropping of the prayer, except if it leads to the loss of mind. If it leads to the loss of mind, then the prayer and the means of religious obligations are lifted from him until his mind returns to him and he is healed. Yes.