How should one deal with those who are negligent in prayer? Should they be boycotted?
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The questioner : May Allah preserve you, Shaykh. Some of the young men, may Allah guide us and them, are extremely negligent in prayer, to the point of abandoning it entirely. These young men may be our relatives, such as brothers and others, and some are friends. How should we deal with them in your view? Should we boycott them with the lawful boycott, or what? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes, there is no doubt that negligence in prayer is a cause of misery and affliction, because if prayer is sound, the deeds are sound, and if it is corrupt, the deeds are corrupt. It is to deeds what the heart is to the body. Therefore, on the Day of Resurrection, the first thing looked into is the prayer. If he has neglected it, it is said, "Enough," for he was even more negligent of what is other than it. If he has preserved it, then his remaining deeds are looked into. Prayer is the pillar of the religion; if it falls, the structure falls. And Allah the Exalted said:[Maryam 19:59-60] As for those who are negligent in prayer, whether they are fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, aunts, or other relatives, or companions, or neighbors, it is obligatory upon us to advise them, warn them, and explain to them the good and the great reward in prayer, and the noble effects, and the evil and affliction in abandoning and neglecting it. If they are guided, that is what is desired. If they are not guided, we look to see if boycotting them and distancing ourselves from them is beneficial, such that they would be ashamed and seek reconciliation, or does this only increase the matter in severity and aversion? If it is the latter, then we do not boycott them. If it is the former, then we boycott them. That is, if we boycott them and they become ashamed and straighten out, then here we boycott them until they straighten out. And if boycotting does not benefit anything, but only increases the matter in severity, distance, and aversion from us, then we do not boycott them, because boycotting is a medicine. When is medicine used? It is used when there is a need and when benefit is expected. If you do not expect benefit from the medicine, you do not use it. However, if they have abandoned prayer entirely, then these are apostates from the religion of Islam. It is obligatory to boycott them, cut off relations with them, and not spend on them if you were spending on them, until they return to Islam. Note which is greater: the original disbeliever who did not become a Muslim from the start, or the apostate?
The student: The apostate.
The Shaykh : The apostate is greater. Therefore, the disbeliever can be left on his religion and we leave him, but the apostate is not left on his apostasy. We say, "Become a Muslim and pray, or we will kill you." So if it is not permissible to let him live, it is not permissible to maintain ties with him. Yes. This... this is before that. Do you have a question? Say it.
The Shaykh : Yes, there is no doubt that negligence in prayer is a cause of misery and affliction, because if prayer is sound, the deeds are sound, and if it is corrupt, the deeds are corrupt. It is to deeds what the heart is to the body. Therefore, on the Day of Resurrection, the first thing looked into is the prayer. If he has neglected it, it is said, "Enough," for he was even more negligent of what is other than it. If he has preserved it, then his remaining deeds are looked into. Prayer is the pillar of the religion; if it falls, the structure falls. And Allah the Exalted said:
(59) But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil - (60) Except those who repent, believe and do righteousness; for those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged at all.
فخلف من بعدهم خلف أضاعوا الصّلاة واتّبعوا الشّهوات فسوف يلقون غيّا* إلاّ من تاب وآمن وعمل صالحا فأولئك يدخلون الجنّة ولا يظلمون شيئاThe student: The apostate.
The Shaykh : The apostate is greater. Therefore, the disbeliever can be left on his religion and we leave him, but the apostate is not left on his apostasy. We say, "Become a Muslim and pray, or we will kill you." So if it is not permissible to let him live, it is not permissible to maintain ties with him. Yes. This... this is before that. Do you have a question? Say it.