Continuation of the explanation of the statement of Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding what he quoted: "."

The Shaykh : In this hadith, there is evidence that abandoning the prayer is disbelief. This is because it is not permissible to fight the rulers unless we see open disbelief, for which we have proof from Allah. Since the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted us to fight them if they do not establish the prayer, this indicates that abandoning the prayer is open disbelief for which we have proof from Allah. This is the correct position: that one who abandons the prayer absolutely, not praying with the congregation nor in his house, is a disbeliever whose disbelief takes him out of the religion. It has not been reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that one who abandons the prayer is in Paradise, or that he is a believer, or that he is saved from the Fire, or anything similar to that. Therefore, it is obligatory to keep the texts in their generality regarding the disbelief of one who abandons the prayer. No one has brought a proof indicating that he is not a disbeliever, except for arguments that do not benefit them, because they fall into five categories: either there is no evidence in them at all, or they are restricted by a description that makes abandoning the prayer impossible, or they are restricted by a state in which one who abandons the prayer is excused, or they are general and have been specified by hadiths with explicit texts regarding the disbelief of one who abandons the prayer, or they are weak. These are five categories, and the evidence of those who say that he is not a disbeliever never falls outside of them. Therefore, the correct position, in which I have no doubt, is that one who abandons the prayer is a disbeliever whose disbelief takes him out of the religion, and that he is more severe in disbelief than the Jews and the Christians. This is because the Jews and the Christians are allowed to remain on their religion, whereas he is not allowed to remain; he is an apostate who is given the opportunity to repent. If he repents, well and good; otherwise, he is killed. And Allah grants success.