A Response to the Statement: If Allah Had Guided Me, I Would Have Prayed

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, what is the ruling on one who says, "If Allah had guided me, I would have prayed and performed acts of obedience"? Is this the position of the Qadariyyah or not?

Answer:
This is a fallacy. You ask him, "Are you able to stand up and pray, or not?" If he says no, he is a liar. If he says yes, I am able, you say, "Why do you not stand up? You are the one who chose to abandon prayer by your own choice, since you are able to pray. Why do you not pray?" If he says he is not able, he is a liar. If he says he is able, he is refuted. He has become one who intentionally abandons prayer while being able to perform it. You do not address him except by his own ability. Do not address him by the prior decree or the prior divine decree. Address him by his own ability: Are you able or not? Either he lies, or he tells the truth and contradicts himself.