Previously, you stated in a past discussion that the one who abandons prayer is a disbeliever; will he remain in the Fire forever?

The questioner : The questioner says: Previously, you told us in a past discussion that the one who abandons prayer is a disbeliever. Will he remain in the Fire forever, like the disbelieving atheist?

The Shaykh : If it is said that this person is a disbeliever whose disbelief takes him out of the religion, then it follows that he will remain in the Fire forever. Therefore, if a person dies while not praying, having died as one who abandoned prayer, it is not permissible for his relatives to wash him, shroud him, or bring him for the funeral prayer before the Muslims. Rather, they take him out to the desert, dig a hole for him, and bury him in it. Likewise, it is not permissible for his relatives to ask Allah for forgiveness and mercy for him, because this is transgression in supplication. How can you ask Allah to do what He has informed you that He will not do? This is a contradiction and a transgression in supplication. Indeed, Allah does not forgive that partners are associated with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. So if you asked Allah to forgive the polytheist, you would be asking Allah to lie about His news, and this is transgression in supplication. Therefore, if someone has a relative who dies having abandoned prayer, it is not permissible for him to say, "O Allah, forgive him," nor is it permissible for him to supplicate for him with mercy, nor is it permissible for him to perform 'Umrah on his behalf or give charity on his behalf, because all of this is contrary to what the Shari'ah has brought. And you, my Muslim brother, do not be surprised by this. Do not say, "How can I disavow my father? How can I disavow my brother? How can I disavow my son, for example?" Do not say this. Ibrahim (peace be upon him) disavowed his father. No, yes, he disavowed him. And He, the Exalted, said: He did not say, "This is my father," but rather he disavowed him. So loyalty and disavowal is a great matter that a person must always keep before his eyes, and he must be loyal for the sake of Allah and in the path of Allah, and he must be hostile for the sake of Allah and in the path of Allah. We mentioned that every person who is judged to be an absolute disbeliever will remain in the Fire forever.

The questioner : And what do we say about the one who says, "Whoever says there is no god but Allah will enter Paradise"?

The Shaykh : "Whoever says there is no god but Allah will enter Paradise" is correct, but only if he acts in accordance with its implications and fulfills what it indicates. Otherwise, the hypocrites say, "There is no god but Allah." Those who came to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "We testify that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah." This is a confirmed testimony, my brothers. By what is the declarative sentence now confirmed? By three confirmers: "We testify," "inna," and the lam. Three confirmers. They said, "We testify that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah." What was their answer? Allah, the Exalted, said: So He testified with a testimony more complete than their testimony, confirmed by what they confirmed their testimony with: "He testifies that you are liars." And reflect on the eloquence of the Qur'an. He brought His saying, "And Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger," before He brought His saying, "And Allah testifies that the hypocrites are liars." Because if He had started with it, if He had said, "They said, 'We testify that you are the Messenger of Allah,' and Allah testifies that the hypocrites are liars," it might have come to mind that they are liars in their saying, "You are the Messenger of Allah." So the precaution was placed first: He said, "And Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger," so that this corrupt meaning would not come to mind. Then He said after that, "And Allah testifies that the hypocrites are liars." So his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): must be qualified, as in some wordings of the hadith of 'Utbah ibn Malik: And whoever seeks thereby the Face of Allah must perform the action that leads to this great station.