The Ruling on Consoling Those Who Do Not Pray
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Question:
Is it permissible for a believer to offer condolences for a person who does not pray?
Answer:
This is a matter requiring consideration. Regarding offering condolences for a disbeliever, the scholars have mentioned that there is no harm in saying: “May Allah improve your consolation,” or “May Allah console you for your loss,” or the like. However, one should not make a supplication for the deceased; because one does not make supplication for the deceased, it is not said: “May Allah forgive your deceased.” But if one makes a supplication for them for a good consolation, and encourages them to be patient, and that this man has committed a great calamity, then it is not befitting to grieve over him, nor to be distressed by his death; because he is not worthy of that due to his disbelief, or due to his abandoning of prayer, which is disbelief according to the correct of the scholars’ opinions. Even if he did not deny its obligation, the scholars differed regarding one who abandons it out of laziness: does he become a disbeliever or not?
The stronger opinion is that he becomes a disbeliever, may Allah protect us, if he abandons it out of laziness. As for if he abandons it by denying its obligation, he becomes a disbeliever by consensus. We ask Allah for safety. Such a person is not the one for whom supplication is made. But if one makes a supplication for them, saying: “May Allah improve your consolation,” or “May Allah console you for your loss,” or “May Allah compensate you with something better than him,” or the like, there is no harm in that. But he should reassure them that such a person is not worthy of grief over him, nor is he deserving of grief over him; because of the falsehood and disbelief he is upon. We ask Allah for safety. He should advise them and make a suitable supplication for them. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Is it permissible for a believer to offer condolences for a person who does not pray?
Answer:
This is a matter requiring consideration. Regarding offering condolences for a disbeliever, the scholars have mentioned that there is no harm in saying: “May Allah improve your consolation,” or “May Allah console you for your loss,” or the like. However, one should not make a supplication for the deceased; because one does not make supplication for the deceased, it is not said: “May Allah forgive your deceased.” But if one makes a supplication for them for a good consolation, and encourages them to be patient, and that this man has committed a great calamity, then it is not befitting to grieve over him, nor to be distressed by his death; because he is not worthy of that due to his disbelief, or due to his abandoning of prayer, which is disbelief according to the correct of the scholars’ opinions. Even if he did not deny its obligation, the scholars differed regarding one who abandons it out of laziness: does he become a disbeliever or not?
The stronger opinion is that he becomes a disbeliever, may Allah protect us, if he abandons it out of laziness. As for if he abandons it by denying its obligation, he becomes a disbeliever by consensus. We ask Allah for safety. Such a person is not the one for whom supplication is made. But if one makes a supplication for them, saying: “May Allah improve your consolation,” or “May Allah console you for your loss,” or “May Allah compensate you with something better than him,” or the like, there is no harm in that. But he should reassure them that such a person is not worthy of grief over him, nor is he deserving of grief over him; because of the falsehood and disbelief he is upon. We ask Allah for safety. He should advise them and make a suitable supplication for them. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.