Also, what is the ruling of the Shari'ah in your view, O Shaykh Muhammad, regarding abandoning one's family and cutting ties with them because of their sins and their leaving of prayer and obligatory duties? We ask for guidance on this?
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The questioner : What is the ruling of the Shari'ah in your view, O Shaykh Muhammad, regarding abandoning one's family and cutting ties with them because of their sins and their leaving of prayer and obligatory duties? We ask for guidance on this as well?
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that family and relatives have rights upon a person, even if they are disbelievers, as Allah the Exalted said:[Luqman 31:14-15] However, these family members who do not pray are considered apostates from Islam, because one who does not pray is a disbeliever, as indicated by the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the statements of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). In fact, some scholars have reported this as a consensus. If they are leaving prayer, they are apostates from the religion of Islam, and it is not permissible for a person to mix with them, except by way of advice. One should go to them, advise them, and explain to them the disgrace and shame in this world and the Hereafter that this apostasy entails, so that perhaps they may return. If they persist in that, then they have no right, and they must be boycotted and cut off. But I ask Allah (Mighty and Majestic) to return these people and others who have been afflicted with this great calamity, to return them to Islam, and to make them perform what Allah has made obligatory upon them, such as the prayers and others.
The questioner : O Allah, amen. This listener, Majdi 'Abd al-Ghani from Cairo, is asking Shaykh Salih about a question. In fact, as long as it has been mentioned...
The Shaykh : ...before, I say: It should be known that the apostate from Islam is a greater sinner and more sinful than the original disbeliever, because the original disbeliever remains upon the religion he is upon, even if it is false. As for the apostate, he does not remain upon his religion; rather, he is ordered to return to Islam and perform what he left, which is disbelief. If he does not do so, he must be killed. Therefore, if we had three people: a Jew, a Christian, and an apostate from Islam, and each of them slaughtered an animal, then the slaughter of the Jew is lawful, the slaughter of the Christian is lawful, and the slaughter of the apostate is forbidden. By this, we know that he is more severe than the original disbeliever. Even if we suppose that this apostate, may Allah protect us from that, embraced the religion of the Christians or the religion of the Jews, he would not be left upon it. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. The listener Majdi 'Abd al-Ghani, an accountant in Iraq, Salah al-Din Governorate, has a question. We ask you to shed more light on it. His question says: To the honorable Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Uthaymeen.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that family and relatives have rights upon a person, even if they are disbelievers, as Allah the Exalted said:
(14) And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination. (15) But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.
وَوَصَّيْنَا الإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَى وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ * وَإِنْ جَاهَدَاكَ عَلى أَنْ تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلا تُطِعْهُمَا وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًاThe questioner : O Allah, amen. This listener, Majdi 'Abd al-Ghani from Cairo, is asking Shaykh Salih about a question. In fact, as long as it has been mentioned...
The Shaykh : ...before, I say: It should be known that the apostate from Islam is a greater sinner and more sinful than the original disbeliever, because the original disbeliever remains upon the religion he is upon, even if it is false. As for the apostate, he does not remain upon his religion; rather, he is ordered to return to Islam and perform what he left, which is disbelief. If he does not do so, he must be killed. Therefore, if we had three people: a Jew, a Christian, and an apostate from Islam, and each of them slaughtered an animal, then the slaughter of the Jew is lawful, the slaughter of the Christian is lawful, and the slaughter of the apostate is forbidden. By this, we know that he is more severe than the original disbeliever. Even if we suppose that this apostate, may Allah protect us from that, embraced the religion of the Christians or the religion of the Jews, he would not be left upon it. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. The listener Majdi 'Abd al-Ghani, an accountant in Iraq, Salah al-Din Governorate, has a question. We ask you to shed more light on it. His question says: To the honorable Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Uthaymeen.