What is the ruling on one who does not pray the Fajr prayer until he gets up for work, that is, at approximately seven-thirty in the morning, as is usually the case?
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The Shaykh : Yes, from Unayzah.
The questioner : He says:The questioner : Your Eminence, what is the ruling on one who does not pray the Fajr prayer until he gets up for work, that is, at approximately seven-thirty in the morning, as is usually the case, given that he is not late for his work by even a minute, because he is keen to be recorded among the early applicants for the job?
The Shaykh : Yes. Some scholars hold that one who leaves a single prayer until its time has passed without an excuse is a disbeliever, committing major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that takes him out of the religion. Based on this, this man would be a disbeliever, committing major shirk that takes him out of the religion, because delaying the prayer until after its time intentionally, without a valid legal excuse, means that even if he prays it, he gains no benefit from it, as it will not be accepted from him. Others hold that the leaving of prayer that is reported to be disbelief is leaving it entirely, not praying Fajr or any other prayer. This is closer to the apparent meaning of the wording of the texts. So, according to this opinion, which we consider stronger, he is not declared a disbeliever. However, he is in great danger—may Allah protect us from that—unless he believes that it is permissible to delay Fajr until after its time, in which case he would be denying its obligation, and he would be declared a disbeliever for that denial.
Yes.
Buraydah.
The questioner : He says:The questioner : Your Eminence, what is the ruling on one who does not pray the Fajr prayer until he gets up for work, that is, at approximately seven-thirty in the morning, as is usually the case, given that he is not late for his work by even a minute, because he is keen to be recorded among the early applicants for the job?
The Shaykh : Yes. Some scholars hold that one who leaves a single prayer until its time has passed without an excuse is a disbeliever, committing major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that takes him out of the religion. Based on this, this man would be a disbeliever, committing major shirk that takes him out of the religion, because delaying the prayer until after its time intentionally, without a valid legal excuse, means that even if he prays it, he gains no benefit from it, as it will not be accepted from him. Others hold that the leaving of prayer that is reported to be disbelief is leaving it entirely, not praying Fajr or any other prayer. This is closer to the apparent meaning of the wording of the texts. So, according to this opinion, which we consider stronger, he is not declared a disbeliever. However, he is in great danger—may Allah protect us from that—unless he believes that it is permissible to delay Fajr until after its time, in which case he would be denying its obligation, and he would be declared a disbeliever for that denial.
Yes.
Buraydah.