The Ruling on One Who Abandons Prayer Out of Negligence and Laziness
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Question:
What is the ruling on one who abandons prayer out of negligence and laziness? And if he commits major disbelief, what is the ruling on his marriage to a Muslim woman, or his Muslim wife and children, if he contracted the marriage while he was abandoning prayer, or if he abandoned prayer afterwards?
Answer:
The one who abandons prayer has committed a great evil and a major sin, for prayer is the pillar of Islam, and whoever abandons it commits disbelief according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions. Some scholars hold that he has committed a great evil, but that his disbelief is not major shirk, rather it is minor shirk. However, the correct view is that it is major shirk; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam), and he said: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2616Hasan (Darussalam), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
This is the well-known position of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that they considered him a disbeliever. If he marries a Muslim woman while he does not pray, the marriage contract is invalid. But if he was married by someone who believed the marriage to be valid, or who was ignorant of his state, his children follow him and are legitimate due to the doubt (shubhah). He must renew the marriage contract with the Muslim woman if he repents to Allah and Allah guides him. As for if he does not repent, it is obligatory to separate them; because he is not a suitable match for her, as Allah the Exalted said regarding the disbeliever and the Muslim woman: [Al-Mumtahanah: 10], and He (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [Al-Baqarah 2:221] And his children, in any case, follow him due to the doubt (shubhah).
What is the ruling on one who abandons prayer out of negligence and laziness? And if he commits major disbelief, what is the ruling on his marriage to a Muslim woman, or his Muslim wife and children, if he contracted the marriage while he was abandoning prayer, or if he abandoned prayer afterwards?
Answer:
The one who abandons prayer has committed a great evil and a major sin, for prayer is the pillar of Islam, and whoever abandons it commits disbelief according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions. Some scholars hold that he has committed a great evil, but that his disbelief is not major shirk, rather it is minor shirk. However, the correct view is that it is major shirk; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
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 كفرThe head of the matter is Islam, and its pillar is the Salat
رأس الأمر الإسلام وعموده الصلاةBetween a man and disbelief and shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the abandonment of prayer.
بين الرجل وبين الكفر والشرك ترك الصلاةThis is the well-known position of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that they considered him a disbeliever. If he marries a Muslim woman while he does not pray, the marriage contract is invalid. But if he was married by someone who believed the marriage to be valid, or who was ignorant of his state, his children follow him and are legitimate due to the doubt (shubhah). He must renew the marriage contract with the Muslim woman if he repents to Allah and Allah guides him. As for if he does not repent, it is obligatory to separate them; because he is not a suitable match for her, as Allah the Exalted said regarding the disbeliever and the Muslim woman:
they are not lawful [wives] for them, nor are they lawful [husbands] for them
لَا هُنَّ حِلٌّ لَهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحِلُّونَ لَهُنَّAnd do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe
وَلَا تُنْكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنُوا
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.