Is one who leaves the voluntary prayers out of disdain for them an open sinner?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. Some scholars said that one who leaves the voluntary prayers out of disdain for them and indifference to them is an open sinner, and they cited as evidence the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 1401.
The Shaykh : Yes, this is incorrect. The correct view is that leaving the voluntary prayers is something Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has made permissible, because performing the obligatory acts is what is obligatory, and it is possible for one who leaves them to be an open sinner. As for the voluntary prayers, that is not the case. As for the statement of Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him): "Whoever leaves the witr prayer is a bad man, and his testimony should not be accepted", this may imply that Imam Ahmad considers it obligatory, because some scholars said that the witr prayer is obligatory. It is also possible that he said this because the witr prayer is a small matter and scholars differ on its obligation; thus, his negligence regarding this small matter, despite the scholars' disagreement on its obligation, is evidence that he is a bad man and that his testimony should not be accepted. Yes.
And he who turns away from my Sunnah, he has no relation with Me
من رغب عن سنّتي فليس منّيThe Shaykh : Yes, this is incorrect. The correct view is that leaving the voluntary prayers is something Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has made permissible, because performing the obligatory acts is what is obligatory, and it is possible for one who leaves them to be an open sinner. As for the voluntary prayers, that is not the case. As for the statement of Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him): "Whoever leaves the witr prayer is a bad man, and his testimony should not be accepted", this may imply that Imam Ahmad considers it obligatory, because some scholars said that the witr prayer is obligatory. It is also possible that he said this because the witr prayer is a small matter and scholars differ on its obligation; thus, his negligence regarding this small matter, despite the scholars' disagreement on its obligation, is evidence that he is a bad man and that his testimony should not be accepted. Yes.