How to Deal with a Brother Who Abandons Prayer

Question:
With Allah’s blessing, we begin this session with a question from the questioner (A. A. D.) from Jazan. She says, “May Your Eminence, the Shaykh, know that I have a brother who is fifteen years old and abandons prayer.” The questioner says, “And my brothers do not deal with him except by beating him until he prays under compulsion. Because of this, he is extremely undutiful to his parents. What is your Eminence’s opinion on how to deal with him? And what is the correct way to deal with him? May you be rewarded.”

Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance.
As for what follows:
Since the man has reached fifteen years of age, his brothers did well in disciplining and beating him until he straightens out and prays. He is now a person of legal responsibility. It is obligatory that he be asked to repent and his case be referred to the court. If he repents and straightens out, well and good; otherwise, he deserves to be killed.
The advice is that you should strive to guide him to good and urge him to repent. His brothers should strive to guide him to good, advise him, and discipline him until he straightens out and prays with the Muslims in the houses of Allah. Otherwise, whoever abandons prayer commits disbelief and deserves to be killed. If he straightens out, well and good; otherwise, his case should be referred to the court so that the ruling of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is applied to him. We ask Allah for guidance for us and for him. Yes.

The presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good, Your Eminence.