If a student of knowledge considers the one who abandons prayer a disbeliever, while the scholars of his country consider him not a disbeliever, what should he do?

The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah bless you, I mean, I have a very important question, since it came to me... O Shaykh, people follow their scholars.

The Shaykh : Yes

The questioner : So if the fatwa in a certain country is that their scholars issue fatwas to them that the one who abandons prayer is a Muslim who is disobedient,

The Shaykh : Yes

The questioner : and not a disbeliever,

The Shaykh : Yes

The questioner : and the truth in this issue becomes clear to the student of knowledge, is it permissible for him to clarify this truth if he is asked, or should he not say, "I have caused fitnah" and "I have caused confusion"? Or is it obligatory for him at that time, out of fear of fitnah, to issue a fatwa to them and tell them what the scholars of his country hold?

The Shaykh : And I see, by Allah, that he should clarify the truth, because this is in the public interest. Because if it is said that he is an open sinner who is disobedient, then he is merely an open sinner who is disobedient, and people become lax in prayer.
The student: This is the reality.

The Shaykh : So if it is said that he is a disbeliever, it encourages them to pray. Yes, three.
The student: Five minutes.

The Shaykh : Strange, five minutes. Yes, there are not three. Yes.