Our problems are that our father and our brothers, may Allah grant us no power except in Him, do not apply the law of Allah, such as establishing the prayer and other matters, and we have tried repeatedly
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The questioner : A message arrived from your sisters in Allah from the Eastern Region, the city of Khobar. The sisters who are listening have this question and another question. They begin their message with: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy. To the honorable Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : As for what follows, we are sisters from one of the well-known tribes. Allah has blessed us with the gift of guidance, and praise be to Allah, and we ask Him for more. Our problem is that our father and our brothers, may Allah grant us no power except in Him, do not apply the law of Allah, such as establishing the prayer and other matters. We have tried repeatedly and in the best manner to advise them, but to no avail. Then, our father prevents us from voluntary fasting and from attending circles of dhikr and schools for memorizing the Noble Qur'an. This saddened us, O honorable Shaykh. But the most important thing is that they do not pray. We ask you, may Allah reward you with the best reward, to inform us.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and the Imam of the Pious, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for what follows, this is a very great question, and the answer to it requires two things. The first thing is directing advice to your family members whom you have described with these descriptions that should not be found in one who claims to belong to Islam, such as abandoning the prayer, forbidding what is right, and other things you mentioned in the question.
My advice to these people is to fear Allah the Mighty and Majestic, to be afraid of Him, and to return to the religion to which they claim to belong. They claim to belong to Islam, and a Muslim must submit to Allah the Exalted, outwardly and inwardly, by being sincere to Him and following His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Among the most important of this is the prayer, which is the pillar of the religion, and a person has no religion except through it. The prayer is the pillar of this Islamic religion, and it is known that if the pillar falls, the structure it supports falls. Therefore, the texts from the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the reports from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) state that the one who abandons the prayer is a disbeliever with a disbelief that takes him out of the religion. Among the evidence for this in the Book of Allah is His saying regarding the polytheists:[At-Tawbah 9:11] So Allah the Exalted and Majestic made these three conditions for brotherhood in religion: repentance from shirk, establishing the prayer, and giving zakah. And it is known that if the condition is not met, the conditioned thing is not met.
It is also known that brotherhood in religion is not negated unless a person exits the religion entirely, because brotherhood in religion is not negated by open sinfulness and sins, even if they are great. Here is the case of a believer who is killed intentionally, which is one of the greatest of major sins, and yet brotherhood in religion is not negated by it. Allah the Exalted and Majestic said in the verse of retaliation:[Al-Baqarah 2:178] So Allah the Exalted and Majestic made the killer a brother to the one killed, despite the greatness of his crime and its being one of the greatest of major sins.
And Allah the Exalted said regarding the two warring factions of the believers:[Al-Hujurat 49:9-10] So Allah the Exalted made the two warring factions of the believers brothers to the third faction that reconciles between them, despite the greatness of the fighting among the believers.
As for the Sunnah, among its evidence is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as narrated by Muslim from the hadith of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him):Sahih Muslim 82b And in what was narrated by the people of the Sunan from the hadith of Buraydah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam) In these two hadiths, there is a clear text that the one who abandons the prayer is a disbeliever, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made it a boundary between faith and disbelief. And it is known that a boundary distinguishes between the two things it bounds and excludes one from the other so that they do not overlap. This is very clear in that the intended meaning of the disbelief mentioned in the two hadiths is the disbelief that takes one out of the religion, because the disbelief that does not take one out of the religion cannot be a boundary between faith and disbelief, as a person may possess characteristics of disbelief and characteristics of faith, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 67
As for the reports from the Companions, the Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), said: "There is no share in Islam for one who abandons the prayer". "Share" means portion, and here it occurs after "la" (no), which is the negation of existence, indicating the complete absence of what it negates. If the share in Islam for one who abandons the prayer is completely absent, then nothing remains but that he is a disbeliever. Indeed, 'Abdullah ibn Shaqiq, one of the famous Tabi'un, said: "The Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not consider any act whose abandonment is disbelief except the prayer". A formulation like this implies reporting their consensus. Then, the meaning, analogy, and correct reflection require that the one who abandons the prayer is a disbeliever in Allah the Mighty and Majestic with a disbelief that takes him out of the religion, making him one of the people of apostasy, refuge in Allah from that. This is because one who knows the greatness of the status of the prayers and their importance in the sight of Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and knows the reward for one who preserves them and the punishment for one who belittles them, cannot abandon them while having anything of faith in Allah the Mighty and Majestic in his heart. And faith is not merely the acknowledgment of the existence of Allah the Mighty and Majestic and that He is the Creator and Provider, for this acknowledgment is present in the polytheists who deserved the Fire and were deprived of entering Paradise. Indeed, Allah the Exalted says about them:[Luqman 31:25] And they did not deny any of the actions of Allah the Mighty and Majestic that only He performs, so they are acknowledging Allah and acknowledging His lordship, and yet they are disbelievers. So we say to this one who claims to be a believer while abandoning the prayer, because he acknowledges Allah the Mighty and Majestic: this acknowledgment does not benefit you, because faith must include acceptance, submission, and acquiescence. And if one does not acquiesce to Allah the Exalted in the greatest of bodily acts, which is the prayer, how can it be said that he is a believer? And on this basis, we say to these people who were described in the question: fear Allah the Mighty and Majestic in yourselves, return to your religion, establish the prayer, give zakah, fast Ramadan, and perform Hajj to the House of Allah. Seek help from Allah the Mighty and Majestic in performing these acts of obedience. And if you are sincere in your intention, resolve and determine, and seek help from Allah the Mighty and Majestic, then Allah the Exalted will make things easy for you. But if you refuse, are arrogant, and abandon what Allah has commanded and what Allah has made obligatory upon you, you will never be helped in the obedience of Allah, because Allah says: [As-Saf 61:5]
It is known that if we asked you: Do you wish to be, after death, among the people of Paradise, whose width is the heavens and the earth, and which contains what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and what has not occurred to the heart of any human being, and in which the Lord of Majesty bestows His pleasure upon its people, so He is never angry with them, and in which the people of Paradise look at Allah the Mighty and Majestic as Allah the Exalted wills? If you were given the choice between being among the people of this abode or the abode of its punishment, which is severe, painful, and intense, where its people are cast into a Fire, and every time their skins are cooked, other skins are replaced for them to taste the punishment, and when they cry out for help, they are given water like molten metal that scalds the faces:[Al-Hajj 22:19-22] If you were given the choice between these two abodes, you would choose, if you are of sound mind, to be among the people of the first abode. And you cannot achieve this wish and this choice except by doing what Allah and His Messenger have commanded you.
So you must fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic). If you refuse to do anything but persist in what you are doing, namely abandoning the prayer and violating the sacred rights, then beware of transgressing against other servants of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by preventing them from obeying Allah, preventing them from the means of their happiness, and preventing them from what is right. Do not become among those about whom Allah said:[At-Tawbah 9:67] Do not transgress against the servants of Allah by preventing them from prayer, or fasting, or charity, or seeking knowledge, or anything else. For this is a transgression on your part and an injustice against them. This is the first matter, and I ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) that it may reach the ears of your families and benefit them, and that He may make us and them among the righteous, sincere servants of Allah, over whom Satan has no authority, and upon their Lord they rely.
As for you, you must be patient and seek reward from Allah, and wait for relief from Him. For the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And if they forbid you from something of what is right, such as fasting or prayer, it is not obligatory for you to obey them, because if you do so, you are doing something that benefits you and does not harm them. It is not obligatory to obey the parents in a matter that benefits the child and does not harm the parents, because their forbidding of a matter that benefits the child and does not harm them is proof that they intended thereby to cause harm. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 2340Da'if (Darussalam).
Yes, you should treat them with consideration by striving to keep hidden from them the good that you do, so that no harshness, hatred, or enmity arises between you. And I ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) to rectify the conditions of the Muslims and to place in them goodness, blessing, and guidance to the right path. Indeed, He is Generous and Noble.
The questioner : Amen. May Allah reward you with the best reward for us and for the Muslims.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : As for what follows, we are sisters from one of the well-known tribes. Allah has blessed us with the gift of guidance, and praise be to Allah, and we ask Him for more. Our problem is that our father and our brothers, may Allah grant us no power except in Him, do not apply the law of Allah, such as establishing the prayer and other matters. We have tried repeatedly and in the best manner to advise them, but to no avail. Then, our father prevents us from voluntary fasting and from attending circles of dhikr and schools for memorizing the Noble Qur'an. This saddened us, O honorable Shaykh. But the most important thing is that they do not pray. We ask you, may Allah reward you with the best reward, to inform us.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and the Imam of the Pious, and upon his family and all his Companions. As for what follows, this is a very great question, and the answer to it requires two things. The first thing is directing advice to your family members whom you have described with these descriptions that should not be found in one who claims to belong to Islam, such as abandoning the prayer, forbidding what is right, and other things you mentioned in the question.
My advice to these people is to fear Allah the Mighty and Majestic, to be afraid of Him, and to return to the religion to which they claim to belong. They claim to belong to Islam, and a Muslim must submit to Allah the Exalted, outwardly and inwardly, by being sincere to Him and following His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). Among the most important of this is the prayer, which is the pillar of the religion, and a person has no religion except through it. The prayer is the pillar of this Islamic religion, and it is known that if the pillar falls, the structure it supports falls. Therefore, the texts from the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the reports from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) state that the one who abandons the prayer is a disbeliever with a disbelief that takes him out of the religion. Among the evidence for this in the Book of Allah is His saying regarding the polytheists:
But if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, then they are your brothers in religion; and We detail the verses for a people who know.
فإن تابوا وأقاموا الصلاة وءاتوا الزكاة فإخوانكم في الدين ونفصّل الأيات لقوم يعلمونIt is also known that brotherhood in religion is not negated unless a person exits the religion entirely, because brotherhood in religion is not negated by open sinfulness and sins, even if they are great. Here is the case of a believer who is killed intentionally, which is one of the greatest of major sins, and yet brotherhood in religion is not negated by it. Allah the Exalted and Majestic said in the verse of retaliation:
O 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
يا أيها الذين ءامنوا كتِب عليكم القصاص في القتلى الحر بالحر والعبد بالعبد والأنثى بالأنثى فمن عفي له من أخيه فشيء فاتباع بالمعروف وأداء إليه بإحسانAnd Allah the Exalted said regarding the two warring factions of the believers:
(9) And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allah. And if it returns, then make settlement between them in justice and act justly. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. (10) The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.
وإن طائفتان من المؤمنين اقتتلوا فأصلحوا بينهما فإن بغت إحداهما على الأخرى فقاتلوا التي تبغي حتى تفيء إلى أمر الله فإن فاءت فأصلحوا بينهما بالعدل وأقسطوا إن الله يحب المقسطين * إنما المؤمنون إخوة فأصلحوا بين أخويكمAs for the Sunnah, among its evidence is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as narrated by Muslim from the hadith of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him):
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 والنياحةAs for the reports from the Companions, the Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), said: "There is no share in Islam for one who abandons the prayer". "Share" means portion, and here it occurs after "la" (no), which is the negation of existence, indicating the complete absence of what it negates. If the share in Islam for one who abandons the prayer is completely absent, then nothing remains but that he is a disbeliever. Indeed, 'Abdullah ibn Shaqiq, one of the famous Tabi'un, said: "The Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not consider any act whose abandonment is disbelief except the prayer". A formulation like this implies reporting their consensus. Then, the meaning, analogy, and correct reflection require that the one who abandons the prayer is a disbeliever in Allah the Mighty and Majestic with a disbelief that takes him out of the religion, making him one of the people of apostasy, refuge in Allah from that. This is because one who knows the greatness of the status of the prayers and their importance in the sight of Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and knows the reward for one who preserves them and the punishment for one who belittles them, cannot abandon them while having anything of faith in Allah the Mighty and Majestic in his heart. And faith is not merely the acknowledgment of the existence of Allah the Mighty and Majestic and that He is the Creator and Provider, for this acknowledgment is present in the polytheists who deserved the Fire and were deprived of entering Paradise. Indeed, Allah the Exalted says about them:
And if you asked them, "Who created the heavens and earth?" they would surely say, "Allah."
ولئن سألتهم من خلق السماوات والأرض ليقولن اللهAnd when they deviated, Allah caused their hearts to deviate. And Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.
فلما زاغوا أزاغ الله قلوبهم والله لا يهدي القوم الفاسقينIt is known that if we asked you: Do you wish to be, after death, among the people of Paradise, whose width is the heavens and the earth, and which contains what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and what has not occurred to the heart of any human being, and in which the Lord of Majesty bestows His pleasure upon its people, so He is never angry with them, and in which the people of Paradise look at Allah the Mighty and Majestic as Allah the Exalted wills? If you were given the choice between being among the people of this abode or the abode of its punishment, which is severe, painful, and intense, where its people are cast into a Fire, and every time their skins are cooked, other skins are replaced for them to taste the punishment, and when they cry out for help, they are given water like molten metal that scalds the faces:
Poured upon their heads will be scalding water (20) By which is melted that within their bellies and [their] skins. (21) And for [striking] them are maces of iron. (22) Every time they want to get out of Hellfire from anguish, they will be returned to it, and [it will be said], "Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire!"
يصب من فوق رؤوسهم الحميم * يصهر به ما في بطونهم والجلود * ولهم مقامع من حديد * كلما أرادوا أن يخرجوا منها من غم أعيدوا فيها وذوقوا عذاب الحريقSo you must fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic). If you refuse to do anything but persist in what you are doing, namely abandoning the prayer and violating the sacred rights, then beware of transgressing against other servants of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by preventing them from obeying Allah, preventing them from the means of their happiness, and preventing them from what is right. Do not become among those about whom Allah said:
The hypocrite men and hypocrite women are of one another. They enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right and close their hands. They have forgotten Allah, so He has forgotten them
المنافقون والمنافقات بعضهم من بعض يأمرون بالمنكر وينهون عن المعروف ويقبضون أيديهم نسوا الله فنسيهمAs for you, you must be patient and seek reward from Allah, and wait for relief from Him. For the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
And know that victory is with patience, and that relief is with distress, and that with hardship there is ease.
واعلم أن النصر مع الصبر وأن الفرج مع الكرب وأن مع العسر يسراIt was narrated from 'Ubadah bin Samit that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ruled: “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.”
لا ضرر ولا ضرارYes, you should treat them with consideration by striving to keep hidden from them the good that you do, so that no harshness, hatred, or enmity arises between you. And I ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) to rectify the conditions of the Muslims and to place in them goodness, blessing, and guidance to the right path. Indeed, He is Generous and Noble.
The questioner : Amen. May Allah reward you with the best reward for us and for the Muslims.