Ruling on Abandoning Prayer Out of Negligence and Laziness
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
Does abandoning prayer out of negligence and laziness constitute disbelief?
Answer:
This is the correct opinion among the scholars.
Q: Is it disbelief that expels one from the religion?
The Shaykh: Yes, it is major disbelief that expels one from the religion. As for denying its obligation, it is disbelief by the consensus of the Muslims; there is no disagreement. Even if he prays with the people, or even if he stands in the first row, if he denies its obligation, he is a disbeliever by consensus.
Q: Negligence and laziness, meaning?
The Shaykh: The disagreement regarding negligence is that he says it is obligatory, but I have such and such, and I have such and such, and I have circumstances, and he becomes lazy.
Q: What is the ruling in this case?
The Shaykh: He is a disbeliever with major disbelief; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam) Narrated by Imam Ahmad and the people of the Sunan with a sound chain, and due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Narrated by Muslim in the Sahih, and due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding the rulers, that they should not be opposed, he said: Sahih al-Bukhari 7055, 7056 Then he said: Sahih Muslim 1855a This indicates that if they do not establish it, they have committed open disbelief. We ask Allah for safety.
Does abandoning prayer out of negligence and laziness constitute disbelief?
Answer:
This is the correct opinion among the scholars.
Q: Is it disbelief that expels one from the religion?
The Shaykh: Yes, it is major disbelief that expels one from the religion. As for denying its obligation, it is disbelief by the consensus of the Muslims; there is no disagreement. Even if he prays with the people, or even if he stands in the first row, if he denies its obligation, he is a disbeliever by consensus.
Q: Negligence and laziness, meaning?
The Shaykh: The disagreement regarding negligence is that he says it is obligatory, but I have such and such, and I have such and such, and I have circumstances, and he becomes lazy.
Q: What is the ruling in this case?
The Shaykh: He is a disbeliever with major disbelief; due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
The covenant that distinguishes between us and them is prayer; so whoever leaves it, he has committed Kufr.
العهد الذي بيننا وبينهم الصلاة فمن تركها فقد كفرBetween a man and disbelief and shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the abandonment of prayer.
بين الرجل وبين الكفر والشرك ترك الصلاةunless we noticed him having open Kufr (disbelief) for which we would have a proof with us from Allah
إلا أن تروا كفرًا بواحًا عندكم من الله فيه برهانas long as they establish prayer among you
ما أقاموا فيكم الصلاة
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.