What is the advice for one who is afflicted with a drunkard brother who does not pray?
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Question:
After this, a message reached the program from Buraydah in al-Qassim, sent by a listener who indicated his name with the letters (H. M. S). Our brother’s message is somewhat lengthy; he says in it: I am a married young man with three children, living in my own house, and in my deceased father’s house with my mother, my grandmother, and my brothers. My problem is summarized as follows: my eldest brother, who lives with us in the house, does not pray, and does not attend the prayer in the mosque at all times, and he drinks intoxicants most of the time, and is unemployed. I have argued with him many times, but to no avail; rather, he declares that he will not pray, and advice has not benefited him. I considered moving out of the house, but my mother cried a lot and accused me of undutifulness to parents, saying: “Thank your Lord so that Allah does not punish you with a son like him.” O honorable Shaykh! I am living in confusion. Is it permissible for me to leave the house and abandon my mother, even though I am the one who provides for the house? And if I overlook his behavior for the sake of my mother, will I be a partner in the sin and disobedience? Guide us, may Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The one who does not pray is a disbeliever—we seek refuge in Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the authentic hadith: And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam). And drinking intoxicants is among the ugliest of major sins and the greatest of sins. And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said regarding intoxicants: [Al-Ma'idah: 90]. And it is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him): We ask Allah for safety. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 5578 So intoxicants are the mother of all evils, and among the greatest of abominations and major sins.
We advise you to continue advising him, and to warn him of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in a good manner, with encouragement and warning. And you should also seek help in that by asking Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) to guide him and to expand his chest for the truth. Ask your Lord, ask your Lord that Allah guide him, and that Allah protect him from the evil of his own self and desires, and that Allah inspire him with what is right and grant him success in accepting the truth. He is your brother and has a right over you. Ask your Lord for him that Allah guide him in the times of answered supplication: in your prostration, at the end of the prayer, and in the last part of the night. Ask your Lord that Allah guide him and protect him from Satan. And in this way, seek help against him also with your good brothers in Allah, who may have an influence on him, so that they advise him and guide him. Do not leave the house. Sit with your mother and be good to her.
If advice does not benefit him and he does not accept it, then refer his case to the Commission or to the court, so that the prescribed punishment is carried out against him. Refer his case to the Commission, perhaps they will handle the matter. If that does not happen, then the court; because this is a great matter. Abandoning prayer and drinking intoxicants is a great matter. So the one who openly does this and does not care, is not to be left alone if he does not accept advice. We ask Allah for guidance for us, for you, and for him, and for all Muslims.
The presenter : O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
After this, a message reached the program from Buraydah in al-Qassim, sent by a listener who indicated his name with the letters (H. M. S). Our brother’s message is somewhat lengthy; he says in it: I am a married young man with three children, living in my own house, and in my deceased father’s house with my mother, my grandmother, and my brothers. My problem is summarized as follows: my eldest brother, who lives with us in the house, does not pray, and does not attend the prayer in the mosque at all times, and he drinks intoxicants most of the time, and is unemployed. I have argued with him many times, but to no avail; rather, he declares that he will not pray, and advice has not benefited him. I considered moving out of the house, but my mother cried a lot and accused me of undutifulness to parents, saying: “Thank your Lord so that Allah does not punish you with a son like him.” O honorable Shaykh! I am living in confusion. Is it permissible for me to leave the house and abandon my mother, even though I am the one who provides for the house? And if I overlook his behavior for the sake of my mother, will I be a partner in the sin and disobedience? Guide us, may Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The one who does not pray is a disbeliever—we seek refuge in Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the authentic hadith:
Between a man and disbelief and shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the abandonment of prayer.
بين الرجل، وبين الكفر والشرك ترك الصلاةThe 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 كفرindeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.
إنما الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالأَنصَابُ وَالأَزْلامُ رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَThat he cursed intoxicants, its drinker, its server, its presser, its presser’s helper, its carrier, the one to whom it is carried, its seller, its buyer, and the one who eats its price.
أنه لعن الخمر، وشاربها وساقيها، وعاصرها ومعتصرها، وحاملها والمحمولة إليه، وبائعها ومشتريها، وآكل ثمنهاAn adulterer, at the time he is committing illegal sexual intercourse is not a believer; and a person, at the time of drinking an alcoholic drink is not a believer
لا يزني الزاني حين يزني وهو مؤمن، ولا يشرب الخمر حين يشربها وهو مؤمنWe advise you to continue advising him, and to warn him of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in a good manner, with encouragement and warning. And you should also seek help in that by asking Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) to guide him and to expand his chest for the truth. Ask your Lord, ask your Lord that Allah guide him, and that Allah protect him from the evil of his own self and desires, and that Allah inspire him with what is right and grant him success in accepting the truth. He is your brother and has a right over you. Ask your Lord for him that Allah guide him in the times of answered supplication: in your prostration, at the end of the prayer, and in the last part of the night. Ask your Lord that Allah guide him and protect him from Satan. And in this way, seek help against him also with your good brothers in Allah, who may have an influence on him, so that they advise him and guide him. Do not leave the house. Sit with your mother and be good to her.
If advice does not benefit him and he does not accept it, then refer his case to the Commission or to the court, so that the prescribed punishment is carried out against him. Refer his case to the Commission, perhaps they will handle the matter. If that does not happen, then the court; because this is a great matter. Abandoning prayer and drinking intoxicants is a great matter. So the one who openly does this and does not care, is not to be left alone if he does not accept advice. We ask Allah for guidance for us, for you, and for him, and for all Muslims.
The presenter : O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.