How do we reconcile the statement of Allah the Exalted in Surat al-Imran: "And [due] to Allah is the pilgrimage to the House for whoever is able to find thereto a way; and whoever disbelieves – then indeed, Allah is free of need from the worlds"

The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, says: It has been reported from the Companions that they did not consider any act whose abandonment constitutes disbelief except for prayer. How do we reconcile this verse?

The Shaykh : His statement: ?

The questioner : Yes, .

The Shaykh : Yes, this verse is reconciled in one of two ways: either it is said that whoever does not perform Hajj is a disbeliever, as some of the Salaf said, and that abandoning Hajj while having the ability to perform it is disbelief, just like abandoning prayer. This is also narrated from Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), as there is a report from him that whoever abandons Hajj is a disbeliever. On this view, there is no difficulty.
As for the opinion of the majority, which is the second way: they interpret the disbelief here as practical disbelief, meaning that it does not take one out of Islam, and that it is like the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): It is well known that disparaging lineage, if a person is insulted regarding his lineage, or if a mourner wails over a dead person, is not disbelief that takes one out of the religion. They interpret this as practical disbelief, meaning it is not disbelief that takes one out of the religion. This is supported by the statement of Abdullah ibn Shaqiq (may Allah have mercy on him), who is one of the well-known Tabi'un: "The Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not consider any of the deeds whose abandonment constitutes disbelief except for prayer"