The Ruling on One Who Abandons Prayer or Delays It Beyond Its Time

Question:
Allah the Exalted said: Does this verse indicate that one who abandons prayer is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah)? And what is the authenticity of the fatwa (scholarly legal ruling) attributed to Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him), in which he states that one who abandons prayer or delays it beyond its time because he is watching television is a mushrik? Please inform us; may Allah reward you.

Answer:
Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, says: "And do not be like those who became divided and fell into factions." This means that this warning is against division in religion, and that every sect inclines toward a madhhab (school of jurisprudence) other than what Allah has prescribed for the worship of His servants. Rather, it is obligatory to unite on what Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has prescribed, and to adhere to His Shari'ah (Islamic sacred law) as the entire Ummah (the Muslim community), Arabs and non-Arabs, must adhere to His Shari'ah and unite upon it, and not divide as the Muslims divided. There is no doubt that abandoning prayer, despite the division, if one abandons prayer, he has divided the community of Muslims; he is in one part and they are in another. For this reason, a group of scholars of knowledge stated, and this is the view reported from the Companions, that he is a disbeliever regarding prayer. 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) struck the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) with the ruling that one who abandons prayer is a disbeliever. 'Abdullah ibn Shaqiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I did not hear the Companions leave anything except prayer." And it is established from Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: "The covenant between us and them is prayer, so whoever abandons it has committed kufr (disbelief)."
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Thus, major shirk (associating partners with Allah) appears to the most precise scholars of knowledge; we ask Allah for safety. As for our Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), I do not remember the specific fatwa mentioned, but he used to issue fatwas during his life and in his writings that one who abandons prayer, or delays it beyond its time until the time has passed—such as delaying Fajr (the dawn prayer) until the sun rises, or delaying 'Asr (the afternoon prayer) until the sun sets, or delaying 'Isha' (the night prayer) until the dawn appears—is a disbeliever, whether he is a scholar or a common person. However, if it was due to forgetfulness or sleep, he must make up the prayer and offer expiation. But if he intentionally abandons prayer, this is major shirk according to a group of scholars of knowledge who were strict in this matter based on the hadith you heard. Others among the scholars of knowledge said it is kufr (disbelief) less than major kufr, and that abandoning prayer is greater than zina (unlawful sexual intercourse), greater than marriage [in terms of sin], and greater than undutifulness to parents, but it is kufr less than major kufr, not major kufr. The correct view is that it is major kufr, as stated by the scholars of knowledge. Yes.

The presenter:
Yes.