Some relatives, neighbors, and colleagues pray but do not attend the congregation. When we advise them, they say, “If Allah wills, we will attend.” Should we continue to exchange visits and charity with them?

The questioner : The questioner says: Some relatives, neighbors, and colleagues pray but do not attend the congregation. When we advise them, they say, “If Allah wills, we will attend.” Should we continue to exchange visits and charity with them as if this had not happened from them? And if they are bothered by the advice, should we stop advising them?

The Shaykh : These people who do not pray with the congregation have undoubtedly abandoned an obligatory duty indicated by the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). For Allah has made the congregation obligatory in times of fear . And if the congregation is obligatory in times of fear, then it is even more so in times of safety. As for the hadiths, the obligation of the congregation is evident in them. So whoever abandons praying with the congregation is sinful. In fact, some scholars said: Whoever abandons praying with the congregation without an excuse, his prayer is invalid. This is one of the narrations from Imam Ahmad, and it was chosen by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him). Therefore, it is obligatory for all their Muslim brothers, especially their relatives, to exchange advice with them, warn them of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and explain to them the virtue of the congregation and the punishment for whoever abandons it. It is not permissible for them to boycott or cut off ties with them for this sin, because the believer is the brother of the believer, even if he disobeys. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And if he is your brother, it is not permissible for you to boycott him, but you must advise him.