Our brothers who do not pray unless they find a congregation or someone to order them to pray, otherwise they leave off the prayer. Is it permissible for us to greet them, sit with them, and eat with them?
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The questioner : We have brothers who do not pray unless they find a congregation or someone to order them to pray, otherwise they leave off the prayer. Is it permissible for us to greet them, sit with them, and eat with them?
The Shaykh : One must look at the condition of these people. If they do not pray except out of fear of people, then they have no prayer, and their prayer does not benefit them, and they are considered among those who leave off the prayer. But if they pray for Allah, whether people are present or absent, and they do not pray, then the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed: Are they declared disbelievers by this, a major disbelief that takes them out of the religion, or are they Muslims who are open sinners because they pray but neglect it?
If the situation is the first one, and they were advised but they persisted in what they are doing, then they are disbelievers who have committed apostasy. It is not permissible to greet them, nor to accept their invitations, nor to treat them as Muslims. However, they should be advised from time to time, meaning sometimes and sometimes, perhaps Allah will guide them.
As for the second situation, where they are open sinners and not disbelievers, one must look: if boycotting them leads to their rectification, then they are boycotted to discipline them and to reach their rectification. But if they do not care about being boycotted, then they are not boycotted. This is because boycotting is a medicine; if it benefits, it is good, and if it does not benefit, the principle is that it is not permissible to boycott a believer. Likewise, it is said regarding all sinners that they are not boycotted unless boycotting benefits them in rectification and leaving off sins, otherwise they are not boycotted. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, Shaykh. The questioner says, when...
The Shaykh : One must look at the condition of these people. If they do not pray except out of fear of people, then they have no prayer, and their prayer does not benefit them, and they are considered among those who leave off the prayer. But if they pray for Allah, whether people are present or absent, and they do not pray, then the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed: Are they declared disbelievers by this, a major disbelief that takes them out of the religion, or are they Muslims who are open sinners because they pray but neglect it?
If the situation is the first one, and they were advised but they persisted in what they are doing, then they are disbelievers who have committed apostasy. It is not permissible to greet them, nor to accept their invitations, nor to treat them as Muslims. However, they should be advised from time to time, meaning sometimes and sometimes, perhaps Allah will guide them.
As for the second situation, where they are open sinners and not disbelievers, one must look: if boycotting them leads to their rectification, then they are boycotted to discipline them and to reach their rectification. But if they do not care about being boycotted, then they are not boycotted. This is because boycotting is a medicine; if it benefits, it is good, and if it does not benefit, the principle is that it is not permissible to boycott a believer. Likewise, it is said regarding all sinners that they are not boycotted unless boycotting benefits them in rectification and leaving off sins, otherwise they are not boycotted. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, Shaykh. The questioner says, when...