My father was disabled in one leg, and he feared Allah and worked hard to feed us. He did not ask anyone for help and did not accept any forbidden money, and he paid zakah.

The questioner : The questioner says: My father (may Allah have mercy on him) was disabled in one leg, and he feared Allah in all his actions. He worked hard to earn his livelihood to feed us, and he did not accept help from anyone, nor did he accept any forbidden money. He paid zakah on his wealth and gave much in charity, believing that charity compensates for prayer. Also, because he did not hear sufficient programs on religious matters warning about the consequences and end of one who abandons prayer, what should we do? Unfortunately, my father did not pray and did not know all of this.

The Shaykh : It is obligatory for you to advise this father and to make it clear to him that prayer is one of the pillars of Islam and the greatest of the pillars of Islam after the two testimonies. You must make it clear to him that one who abandons it commits disbelief that takes him out of the religion. Even if he gives charity, fasts, performs Hajj, and performs 'Umrah, if he persists in abandoning prayer, inform him that Allah will not accept from him any maintenance, charity, fasting, or Hajj. This is because the condition for the acceptance of deeds is that the person be a Muslim, and one who does not pray is not a Muslim. If the father has already died and he did not reach him, and he was not informed that prayer is obligatory and a fard, then there is no harm in supplicating for him for forgiveness and mercy, perhaps Allah the Exalted will forgive him and have mercy on him.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.