I see many people performing the obligatory Hajj and fasting the month of Ramadan, even though they do not pray. Is this an excuse for them, or is it invalid? Please inform us. May Allah reward you.
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The questioner : I see many people performing the obligatory Hajj and fasting the month of Ramadan, even though they do not pray. Is this an excuse for them, or is it invalid? Please inform us. May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : This is a great and serious issue in which some people fall: they fast, perform Hajj, perform 'Umrah, and give charity, but they do not pray. Are these good deeds of theirs accepted by Allah (Mighty and Majestic), or are they rejected? This depends on the disagreement regarding declaring the one who abandons prayer a disbeliever. Whoever says that he is not a disbeliever says that these deeds are accepted, and whoever says that he is a disbeliever says that these deeds are not accepted. The reference for the scholars' disagreement and contention is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), due to His saying:[Ash-Shuraa 42:10] and His saying: [An-Nisa 4:59] When we refer the scholars' disagreement in this issue to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), we find that the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) indicate that the one who abandons prayer is a disbeliever, and that his disbelief is major shirk that takes him out of the religion. Among the indications of this is His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He) regarding the polytheists: [At-Tawbah 9:11] This conditional phrase indicates that brotherhood with these people is not completed except with these three things: repentance from shirk, establishing prayer, and giving zakah.
If this is a conditional phrase, its implication is that if one of them is missing, religious brotherhood between us and them is not established. Religious brotherhood between a believer and a non-believer does not cease except by the cessation of the entire religion, and it cannot cease due to sins, even if they are great. Among the greatest of sins is killing a believer, and Allah said regarding it:[An-Nisa 4:93] And yet, Allah the Exalted said in the verse of retaliation: [Al-Baqarah 2:178] Thus, Allah the Exalted made the victim a brother to the killer, even though the killer killed him while he was a believer, and killing a believer is among the greatest of major sins after shirk.
This is evidence that sins, even if they are great, do not cause religious brotherhood to cease, whereas disbelief does cause religious brotherhood to cease. If you ask, "Do you say that the one who withholds zakah is a disbeliever?" I say: Were it not for the evidence, I would have said so based on this verse. However, there is evidence narrated by Muslim in his Sahih from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah regarding the one who withholds zakah, where he mentioned his punishment, and then said after that:Sunan Abi Dawud 1658Sahih (Al-Albani) The fact that he sees a way for himself to Paradise is evidence that he has not exited from faith; otherwise, he would not have a way to Paradise.
As for the Sunnah, it is like his saying (peace and blessings be upon him), as narrated by Jabir:Sahih Muslim 82b Muslim narrated it in his Sahih. And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him), as narrated by Buraydah, and the people of the Sunan narrated it: Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam) This is the disbelief that takes one out of the religion, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made a separator between this man's Islam and his disbelief, which is abandoning prayer. The separating boundary prevents the two bounded things from entering into each other. So if he exits from this, he enters into that, and he has no share of what he exited from. This is clear evidence that the intended meaning of "disbelief" here is the disbelief that takes one out of the religion. This is not like his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 67 because he said only meaning that these two actions are among the actions of disbelief. And likewise his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 64a He made "disbelief" an indefinite noun referring only to fighting, meaning that fighting is disbelief in terms of faith-brotherhood and is among the actions of disbelievers, because they are the ones who kill the believers.
The reports from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) regarding the disbelief of the one who abandons prayer have come. Abdullah ibn Shuqayy, who is from the trustworthy Tabi'un, said: "The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not consider any of the actions to be disbelief if abandoned, except prayer." The consensus of the Companions on this, meaning that the one who abandons prayer is a disbeliever with a disbelief that takes him out of the religion, was transmitted by Ishaq ibn Rahawayh, the famous imam. The meaning necessitates this, for every person in his heart has faith and knows the importance of prayer, the reward in it, and the punishment in abandoning it. He knows this, and it is not possible for him to abandon it, especially if it has reached him that abandoning it is disbelief, based on the indication of the Book and the Sunnah. It is not possible for him to abandon it to be among the disbelievers.
By this, we know that the indication of the Book and the Sunnah, the reports of the Companions, and correct consideration all indicate that the one who abandons prayer is a disbeliever with a disbelief that takes him out of the religion. I have considered this much and reviewed what I could of the books of the people of knowledge on this issue, and I have discussed it with those whom Allah the Exalted willed whom I spoke with about this matter. It did not become clear to me except that the stronger position is that the one who abandons prayer is a disbeliever with a disbelief that takes him out of the religion. I considered the evidence used by those who say that he is not a disbeliever, and I found that it does not escape four cases: either there is no evidence in it at all, or it is restricted by a description that prevents abandoning prayer, or it is restricted by a state in which the one who abandons prayer is excused because the markers of the religion have disappeared, or it is general and specified by hadiths or texts regarding the disbelief of the one who abandons prayer. It is known among the people of knowledge that general texts are specified by specific texts, and this is not hidden from a student of knowledge. Based on this, I direct a warning to my Muslim brothers against being negligent with prayer and not doing what is obligatory in it.
Based on this correct and stronger position, which is that the one who abandons prayer is a disbeliever with a disbelief that takes him out of the religion, what the one who abandons prayer does of charity, fasting, and Hajj is not accepted from him, because one of the conditions for the acceptance of good deeds is that the doer is a Muslim. And Allah the Exalted said in His noble Book:[At-Tawbah 9:54] This indicates that disbelief is a barrier to the acceptance of charity, even though charity is a beneficial action that extends its benefit to others. So an action that is limited to the doer is even more likely not to be accepted. At that time, the way to the acceptance of their good deeds is that they repent to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) from what occurred from them of abandoning prayer. And if they repent, they are not required to make up what they abandoned during this period, but they should increase in good deeds. And whoever repents, Allah turns to him in mercy, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Furqan 25:68-71] I ask Allah the Exalted to guide us all to His straight path and to grant us sincere repentance by which He erases what has passed of our sins. Indeed, He is Generous and Bountiful.
The questioner : This is a message that arrived from Hamud Qasim from Northern Yemen. He says in his message.
The Shaykh : This is a great and serious issue in which some people fall: they fast, perform Hajj, perform 'Umrah, and give charity, but they do not pray. Are these good deeds of theirs accepted by Allah (Mighty and Majestic), or are they rejected? This depends on the disagreement regarding declaring the one who abandons prayer a disbeliever. Whoever says that he is not a disbeliever says that these deeds are accepted, and whoever says that he is a disbeliever says that these deeds are not accepted. The reference for the scholars' disagreement and contention is the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), due to His saying:
And in anything over which you disagree - its ruling is [to be referred] to Allah.
وَمَا اخْتَلَفْتُمْ فِيهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَحُكْمُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِAnd if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًاBut if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, then they are your brothers in religion
فَإِنْ تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلاةَ وَءاتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ فِي الدِّينِIf this is a conditional phrase, its implication is that if one of them is missing, religious brotherhood between us and them is not established. Religious brotherhood between a believer and a non-believer does not cease except by the cessation of the entire religion, and it cannot cease due to sins, even if they are great. Among the greatest of sins is killing a believer, and Allah said regarding it:
But whoever kills a believer intentionally - his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allah has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment.
وَمَنْ يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَالِدًا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًاO you who have believed, prescribed for you is legal retribution for those murdered - the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But whoever overlooks from his brother anything, then there should be a suitable follow-up and payment to him with good conduct
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءامَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الْقِصَاصُ فِي الْقَتْلَى الْحُرُّ بِالْحُرِّ وَالْعَبْدُ بِالْعَبْدِ وَالأُنثَى بِالأُنثَى فَمَنْ عُفِيَ لَهُ مِنْ أَخِيهِ شَيْءٌ فَاتِّبَاعٌ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَأَدَاءٌ إِلَيْهِ بِإِحْسَانٍThis is evidence that sins, even if they are great, do not cause religious brotherhood to cease, whereas disbelief does cause religious brotherhood to cease. If you ask, "Do you say that the one who withholds zakah is a disbeliever?" I say: Were it not for the evidence, I would have said so based on this verse. However, there is evidence narrated by Muslim in his Sahih from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah regarding the one who withholds zakah, where he mentioned his punishment, and then said after that:
he sees whether his path is to take him to Paradise or to Hell
ثم يرى سبيله إما إلى الجنة وإما إلى النارAs for the Sunnah, it is like his saying (peace and blessings be upon him), as narrated by Jabir:
Between man and polytheism and unbelief is the abandonment of salat.
بين الرجل وبين الشرك والكفر ترك الصلاةThe covenant that distinguishes between us and them is prayer; so whoever leaves it, he has committed Kufr.
العهد الذي بيننا وبينهم الصلاة فمن تركها فقد كفرTwo (things) are found among men which are tantamount to unbelief: slandering one's lineage and lamentation on the dead.
اثنتان في الناس هما بهم كفر الطعن في النسب، والنياحة على الميتTwo
هماThey are disbelievers
بهم كفرAbusing a Muslim is an outrage and fighting against him is unbelief
سباب المسلم فسوق، وقتاله كفرThe reports from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) regarding the disbelief of the one who abandons prayer have come. Abdullah ibn Shuqayy, who is from the trustworthy Tabi'un, said: "The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not consider any of the actions to be disbelief if abandoned, except prayer." The consensus of the Companions on this, meaning that the one who abandons prayer is a disbeliever with a disbelief that takes him out of the religion, was transmitted by Ishaq ibn Rahawayh, the famous imam. The meaning necessitates this, for every person in his heart has faith and knows the importance of prayer, the reward in it, and the punishment in abandoning it. He knows this, and it is not possible for him to abandon it, especially if it has reached him that abandoning it is disbelief, based on the indication of the Book and the Sunnah. It is not possible for him to abandon it to be among the disbelievers.
By this, we know that the indication of the Book and the Sunnah, the reports of the Companions, and correct consideration all indicate that the one who abandons prayer is a disbeliever with a disbelief that takes him out of the religion. I have considered this much and reviewed what I could of the books of the people of knowledge on this issue, and I have discussed it with those whom Allah the Exalted willed whom I spoke with about this matter. It did not become clear to me except that the stronger position is that the one who abandons prayer is a disbeliever with a disbelief that takes him out of the religion. I considered the evidence used by those who say that he is not a disbeliever, and I found that it does not escape four cases: either there is no evidence in it at all, or it is restricted by a description that prevents abandoning prayer, or it is restricted by a state in which the one who abandons prayer is excused because the markers of the religion have disappeared, or it is general and specified by hadiths or texts regarding the disbelief of the one who abandons prayer. It is known among the people of knowledge that general texts are specified by specific texts, and this is not hidden from a student of knowledge. Based on this, I direct a warning to my Muslim brothers against being negligent with prayer and not doing what is obligatory in it.
Based on this correct and stronger position, which is that the one who abandons prayer is a disbeliever with a disbelief that takes him out of the religion, what the one who abandons prayer does of charity, fasting, and Hajj is not accepted from him, because one of the conditions for the acceptance of good deeds is that the doer is a Muslim. And Allah the Exalted said in His noble Book:
And what prevents their expenditures from being accepted from them but that they have disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger
وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَنْ تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَاتُهُمْ إِلَّا أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ(68) And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. (69) Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated - (70) Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. (71) And he who repents and does righteousness does indeed turn to Allah with [accepted] repentance.
وَالَّذِينَ لا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا ءاخَرَ وَلا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلا يَزْنُونَ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا * يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَانًا * إِلَّا مَنْ تَابَ وَءامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُوْلَئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا * وَمَنْ تَابَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَإِنَّهُ يَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَتَابًاThe questioner : This is a message that arrived from Hamud Qasim from Northern Yemen. He says in his message.