What is the ruling on one who dies while not praying out of negligence and laziness?
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Question:
He says: The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed regarding declaring the one who abandons prayer a disbeliever: Malik and al-Shafi'i said that he is not a disbeliever. So what is the ruling on one who dies while not praying out of negligence and laziness, relying on this fatwa and believing in its correctness? What is his fate with Allah on the Day of Resurrection? Is this belief in holding onto this fatwa, or that one, sourced from the hadith that says: "What the Muslims see as good is good in the sight of Allah"?
Answer:
The issue is as the questioner said: there is scholarly disagreement in it. If the one who abandons prayer does not deny its obligation, but if he denies its obligation, then he is declared a disbeliever by all of them (may Allah protect us from that), like the other disbelievers, with major shirk. But if he abandons it out of persistent laziness, or at some times, that is where the disagreement lies.
The correct view is that he is declared a disbeliever with major shirk. This is the correct view, contrary to the view of the majority. The correct view is the one that says he is a disbeliever with major shirk, and that he is not washed, and no funeral prayer is performed for him. His ruling is the ruling of the disbelievers, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the authentic hadith: And due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam).
And due to the saying of Abdullah ibn Shaqiq al-Aqili, the great Tabi'i: "The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not consider anything abandoned to be disbelief except prayer." And due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him), when he was asked about the rulers who delay prayer from its times, or commit some sins: "Should we fight them?" He forbade fighting them, and said:Sahih al-Bukhari 7055, 7056 And in a narration: Sahih Muslim 1855a This indicates that abandoning prayer is open disbelief.
So it is obligatory for every Muslim to beware of abandoning prayer. Likewise, every Muslim woman must maintain prayer in its time and beware of abandoning it, for abandoning it is disbelief. From this is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 594 And the invalidation of deeds indicates major shirk. So it is obligatory for every Muslim and Muslim woman to maintain prayer in its times and beware of abandoning it, whether by denial or by negligence. We ask Allah for guidance, success, and well-being for the Muslims from all evil. Yes.
The presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good.
He says: The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed regarding declaring the one who abandons prayer a disbeliever: Malik and al-Shafi'i said that he is not a disbeliever. So what is the ruling on one who dies while not praying out of negligence and laziness, relying on this fatwa and believing in its correctness? What is his fate with Allah on the Day of Resurrection? Is this belief in holding onto this fatwa, or that one, sourced from the hadith that says: "What the Muslims see as good is good in the sight of Allah"?
Answer:
The issue is as the questioner said: there is scholarly disagreement in it. If the one who abandons prayer does not deny its obligation, but if he denies its obligation, then he is declared a disbeliever by all of them (may Allah protect us from that), like the other disbelievers, with major shirk. But if he abandons it out of persistent laziness, or at some times, that is where the disagreement lies.
The correct view is that he is declared a disbeliever with major shirk. This is the correct view, contrary to the view of the majority. The correct view is the one that says he is a disbeliever with major shirk, and that he is not washed, and no funeral prayer is performed for him. His ruling is the ruling of the disbelievers, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) 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 كفرAnd due to the saying of Abdullah ibn Shaqiq al-Aqili, the great Tabi'i: "The Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not consider anything abandoned to be disbelief except prayer." And due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him), when he was asked about the rulers who delay prayer from its times, or commit some sins: "Should we fight them?" He forbade fighting them, and said:
unless we noticed him having open Kufr (disbelief) for which we would have a proof with us from Allah
إلا أن تروا كفرًا بواحًا، عندكم من الله فيه برهانas long as they establish prayer among you
ما أقاموا فيكم الصلاةSo it is obligatory for every Muslim to beware of abandoning prayer. Likewise, every Muslim woman must maintain prayer in its time and beware of abandoning it, for abandoning it is disbelief. From this is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):
Whoever leaves the `Asr prayer will have all his (good) deeds annulled.
من ترك صلاة العصر؛ حبط عملهThe presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.