My father testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he does good deeds, but he does not pray. What is your guidance regarding this?
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The questioner : My father testifies that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and he is eager to do good deeds, but he does not pray. What is the ruling in this matter? Please guide us, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : The ruling in this matter is that this man is contradictory. If he is eager to do good deeds, what greater good is there than prayer? Why is he not eager for it?
It is obligatory for you to advise him and warn him against neglecting prayer, and to make it clear to him that abandoning prayer is disbelief that expels one from the religion, and that one who does not pray is an apostate who has exited the religion of Islam. He must repent to Allah, enter into His religion, and increase in seeking forgiveness and repentance.
If he dies while abandoning prayer, he dies a disbeliever. He is not washed, not shrouded, no funeral prayer is performed for him, no mercy is invoked for him, and he is not buried with the Muslims. On the Day of Resurrection, he will be gathered with Pharaoh, Haman, Qarun, and Abu Jahl. We ask Allah for safety. His abode is the Fire, and there are no supporters for the wrongdoers.
And we ask Allah for his guidance and that He grant him success in what is good and righteous.
The questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : The ruling in this matter is that this man is contradictory. If he is eager to do good deeds, what greater good is there than prayer? Why is he not eager for it?
It is obligatory for you to advise him and warn him against neglecting prayer, and to make it clear to him that abandoning prayer is disbelief that expels one from the religion, and that one who does not pray is an apostate who has exited the religion of Islam. He must repent to Allah, enter into His religion, and increase in seeking forgiveness and repentance.
If he dies while abandoning prayer, he dies a disbeliever. He is not washed, not shrouded, no funeral prayer is performed for him, no mercy is invoked for him, and he is not buried with the Muslims. On the Day of Resurrection, he will be gathered with Pharaoh, Haman, Qarun, and Abu Jahl. We ask Allah for safety. His abode is the Fire, and there are no supporters for the wrongdoers.
And we ask Allah for his guidance and that He grant him success in what is good and righteous.
The questioner : O Allah, amen. May Allah bless you, O honorable Shaykh.