The duty of a son toward his father who does not pray, and whether he inherits from him?

Machine translationRead the Arabic original

Question:
The questioner (M. B. 'A) says in his final question: My father does not pray. Is it obligatory for me to call him to it and command him to establish the prayer? Some people have told me that I am responsible for him on the Day of Resurrection before Allah. If he dies, is it permissible for me to inherit from him, knowing that he testifies that there is no god but Allah? Please guide us in this matter, O Shaykh.

Answer:
It is obligatory for you to call him to Allah and advise him in a good manner, with gentleness and kind words, as Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said:

Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination.

أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِيرُ

[Luqman: 14]

And if they strive to make you

وَإِنْ جَاهَدَاكَ

meaning: polytheists, the polytheist parents.

But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness

وَإِنْ جَاهَدَاكَ عَلى أَنْ تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلا تُطِعْهُمَا وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا

[Luqman: 15] So he was commanded to accompany the disbelieving parents in this world with kindness. So you must accompany him with kindness, with advice, with guidance, and with gentleness. And seek the help of good brothers so that they also advise him, from his relatives, from his brothers, from his uncles; perhaps Allah will guide him through your means. The Messenger said (peace and blessings be upon him):

One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer.

من دل على خير؛ فله مثل أجر فاعله

Sahih Muslim 1893a

And he said (peace and blessings be upon him) to 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) :

if one man is guided on the right path (i.e. converted to Islam) through you, it would be better for you than (a great number of) red camels.

لأن يهدي الله بك رجلًا واحدًا خير لك من حمر النعم

Sahih al-Bukhari 3701

.
So strive, be sincere with Allah, and ask your Lord for his guidance in your prostration, at the end of the prayer, and in other times. Ask your Lord to guide him, to expand his chest for the truth, and to help him to accept the truth. Strive in that, and be patient and persevere. Yes.
And do not inherit from him if he dies upon his disbelief. Do not inherit from him. The correct view is that you do not inherit from him; because the one who abandons prayer is a disbeliever. So if he is a disbeliever, then a Muslim does not inherit from a disbeliever. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

A Muslim may not inherit from an infidel nor an infidel from a Muslim.

لا يرث المسلم الكافر، ولا الكافر المسلم

Sunan Abi Dawud 2909Sahih (Al-Albani)

And the scholars differed regarding the one who abandons prayer out of negligence, not out of denying its obligation. Some scholars held that he is a disbeliever with major shirk, and this is the stronger position. Others held that he is not a disbeliever except with minor shirk if he does not deny its obligation. And the stronger view is that he is a disbeliever with major shirk. And you do not inherit from him if you pray and he does not pray. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh 'Abd al-'Aziz.

Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

Similar fatwas