What is the ruling on one who fluctuates in performing the prayers? Is he one who abandons them?
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The Shaykh : After that?
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. I know a person who fluctuates in performing the prayer; that is, sometimes he prays and sometimes he abandons the prayer. So what is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding this? Is he one who abandons the prayer?
The Shaykh : By Allah, my brother, I am unable to express the ruling of the Shari'ah; I express my opinion on the matter. And I hope that our brothers who ask questions do not direct the question to one of the people and say, "What is the ruling of the Shari'ah?" This is only true of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), because he is the legislator, unless he qualifies it and says, "What is the ruling of the Shari'ah in your view?" Then there is no harm.
In any case, what I see is that the one who prays and leaves it off, while believing in the obligation of the prayer, is not a disbeliever, but he is an open sinner. However, if he abandons it completely, and we know that this man does not pray, not at home, not in the mosque, not with people, and not alone, then he is a disbeliever. Did you understand? This is what we see.
Some of the scholars, both early and late, hold that if he abandons one prayer until its time passes without an excuse, he is a disbeliever. And some of them say: the one who abandons a prayer and does not combine it with another, such as if he abandons the midday prayer along with the afternoon prayer until the sun sets, he is a disbeliever. But if he abandons the midday prayer until the time of the afternoon prayer enters, he is not a disbeliever. However, what I see is that the one who prays and leaves it off is not a disbeliever. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. I know a person who fluctuates in performing the prayer; that is, sometimes he prays and sometimes he abandons the prayer. So what is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding this? Is he one who abandons the prayer?
The Shaykh : By Allah, my brother, I am unable to express the ruling of the Shari'ah; I express my opinion on the matter. And I hope that our brothers who ask questions do not direct the question to one of the people and say, "What is the ruling of the Shari'ah?" This is only true of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), because he is the legislator, unless he qualifies it and says, "What is the ruling of the Shari'ah in your view?" Then there is no harm.
In any case, what I see is that the one who prays and leaves it off, while believing in the obligation of the prayer, is not a disbeliever, but he is an open sinner. However, if he abandons it completely, and we know that this man does not pray, not at home, not in the mosque, not with people, and not alone, then he is a disbeliever. Did you understand? This is what we see.
Some of the scholars, both early and late, hold that if he abandons one prayer until its time passes without an excuse, he is a disbeliever. And some of them say: the one who abandons a prayer and does not combine it with another, such as if he abandons the midday prayer along with the afternoon prayer until the sun sets, he is a disbeliever. But if he abandons the midday prayer until the time of the afternoon prayer enters, he is not a disbeliever. However, what I see is that the one who prays and leaves it off is not a disbeliever. Yes.