Ruling on boycotting one who abandons prayer
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Some of the young men—may Allah guide us and them—neglect prayer to a great extent, to the point of abandoning it entirely,And these young men may be relatives of us, such as: brothers and others, and some of them are friends,So how should we deal with them in your opinion: Should we boycott them with a religious boycott, or what?
There is no doubt that neglecting prayer is a cause of misery and affliction; for when prayer is sound, the deeds are sound, and when it is corrupt, the deeds are corrupt. It is to deeds as the heart is to the body. Therefore, on the Day of Resurrection, the first thing to be examined is prayer. If he has neglected it, he has neglected everything else even more; and if he has preserved it, his remaining deeds will be examined. Prayer is the pillar of religion; if it falls, the structure falls.And Allah the Exalted has said: [Maryam: 59-60] .
As for these who neglect prayer, whether they are fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, aunts, or other relatives, or companions or neighbors, it is obligatory for us to advise them, warn them, and explain to them the good and great reward in prayer, its noble effects, and the evil and affliction in abandoning and neglecting it. If they are guided, that is what is desired.And if they are not guided, we look at: Is there a benefit in boycotting them and distancing ourselves from them such that they would be ashamed and seek reconciliation, or does this only increase the severity and aversion of the matter? If it is the latter, we do not boycott them. If it is the former, we boycott them.Meaning: If boycotting them makes them ashamed and they straighten out, then we boycott them until they straighten out. If boycotting does not benefit anything, but only increases the severity, distance, and aversion from us, then we do not boycott them. For boycotting is a medicine. When is medicine used? It is used when there is a need and when benefit is expected. If you do not expect benefit from the medicine, do not use it. Except if they have abandoned prayer entirely; these are apostates from the religion of Islam. It is obligatory to boycott them, cut off relations with them, and not spend on them if you were spending on them, until they return to Islam.
Note which is greater: the original disbeliever who did not become a Muslim from the start, or the apostate? The apostate is greater. Therefore, the disbeliever can be left on his religion and we can leave him, but the apostate is not left on his apostasy.We say: "Become a Muslim and pray, or we will kill you." If it is not permissible to allow him to remain alive, it is not permissible to maintain ties with him.
There is no doubt that neglecting prayer is a cause of misery and affliction; for when prayer is sound, the deeds are sound, and when it is corrupt, the deeds are corrupt. It is to deeds as the heart is to the body. Therefore, on the Day of Resurrection, the first thing to be examined is prayer. If he has neglected it, he has neglected everything else even more; and if he has preserved it, his remaining deeds will be examined. Prayer is the pillar of religion; if it falls, the structure falls.And Allah the Exalted has said:
(59) But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil - (60) Except those who repent, believe and do righteousness; for those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged at all.
فَخَلَفَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلاةَ وَاتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيّاً * إِلَّا مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحاً فَأُولَئِكَ يَدْخُلُونَ الْجَنَّةَ وَلا يُظْلَمُونَ شَيْئاًAs for these who neglect prayer, whether they are fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, aunts, or other relatives, or companions or neighbors, it is obligatory for us to advise them, warn them, and explain to them the good and great reward in prayer, its noble effects, and the evil and affliction in abandoning and neglecting it. If they are guided, that is what is desired.And if they are not guided, we look at: Is there a benefit in boycotting them and distancing ourselves from them such that they would be ashamed and seek reconciliation, or does this only increase the severity and aversion of the matter? If it is the latter, we do not boycott them. If it is the former, we boycott them.Meaning: If boycotting them makes them ashamed and they straighten out, then we boycott them until they straighten out. If boycotting does not benefit anything, but only increases the severity, distance, and aversion from us, then we do not boycott them. For boycotting is a medicine. When is medicine used? It is used when there is a need and when benefit is expected. If you do not expect benefit from the medicine, do not use it. Except if they have abandoned prayer entirely; these are apostates from the religion of Islam. It is obligatory to boycott them, cut off relations with them, and not spend on them if you were spending on them, until they return to Islam.
Note which is greater: the original disbeliever who did not become a Muslim from the start, or the apostate? The apostate is greater. Therefore, the disbeliever can be left on his religion and we can leave him, but the apostate is not left on his apostasy.We say: "Become a Muslim and pray, or we will kill you." If it is not permissible to allow him to remain alive, it is not permissible to maintain ties with him.