How to Deal with Relatives Who Abandon Prayer
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Question:
A message was received by the program from one of the listening brothers. He says: Your brother in Allah (M. M. 'A), our brother, asks and says: If a Muslim man has a brother or sister who completely abandons prayer, and the necessary advice has been given, but to no avail, is it permissible for him to resort to the method of cutting off ties? And what are the limits of dealing with one who abandons prayer if he is a relative in our noble religion?
Please advise us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
If a brother, sister, or other relative abandons prayer, it is obligatory to advise, guide, and be patient with them. If the one who abandoned prayer responds and Allah guides him and he repents, then praise be to Allah. Otherwise, it is obligatory to cut off ties with him and boycott him. His invitation to a feast or anything else is not accepted, he is not invited to a feast, he is not greeted with the salam, and his salam is not returned, until he repents to Allah. This is because his crime is great, and it is apostasy from Islam according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions.
Abandoning prayer, and doing so intentionally, is apostasy from Islam. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): narrated by Muslim in the Sahih; and his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam) and other hadiths that came with the same meaning. And Allah the Exalted says about the people of the Fire: [Al-Muddaththir 74:42] They said, "We were not of those who used to pray" [Al-Muddaththir: 42-43]. So they began with the evil deeds that caused them to enter the Fire by abandoning prayer. We ask Allah for safety.
So it is obligatory for the believer, regarding his relatives if they abandon prayer, to advise them, to guide them to good, and to also direct some of his good brothers to advise and guide them. This is because Allah says: [Al-Ma'idah: 2].
So cooperation in righteousness and piety is among the most important matters. If Allah guides them and they repent, then praise be to Allah. Otherwise, it is obligatory to cut off ties with them and boycott them until they straighten out and repent. This is the obligation upon Muslims, except for the parents. The parents have a different status. This is because Allah the Exalted said regarding disbelieving parents: [Luqman: 15]. The parents have a great right, even if they are disbelievers. One must be patient with them, be kind to them, be gentle with them, and call them to Allah, perhaps Allah will guide them through His means. One should not be hasty. Even if they persist in disbelief, he must advise them, guide them to good, and seek help in that from any of his relatives, brothers, or loved ones he sees, perhaps Allah will guide them through His means.
So if they persist in disbelief, he does not cut off the advice, nor does he cut off the kindness. Rather, he continues in his advice and kindness until they submit or die. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and may He benefit us with your knowledge.
A message was received by the program from one of the listening brothers. He says: Your brother in Allah (M. M. 'A), our brother, asks and says: If a Muslim man has a brother or sister who completely abandons prayer, and the necessary advice has been given, but to no avail, is it permissible for him to resort to the method of cutting off ties? And what are the limits of dealing with one who abandons prayer if he is a relative in our noble religion?
Please advise us. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
If a brother, sister, or other relative abandons prayer, it is obligatory to advise, guide, and be patient with them. If the one who abandoned prayer responds and Allah guides him and he repents, then praise be to Allah. Otherwise, it is obligatory to cut off ties with him and boycott him. His invitation to a feast or anything else is not accepted, he is not invited to a feast, he is not greeted with the salam, and his salam is not returned, until he repents to Allah. This is because his crime is great, and it is apostasy from Islam according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions.
Abandoning prayer, and doing so intentionally, is apostasy from Islam. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
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 كفر[And asking them], "What put you into Saqar?"
مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ So it is obligatory for the believer, regarding his relatives if they abandon prayer, to advise them, to guide them to good, and to also direct some of his good brothers to advise and guide them. This is because Allah says:
cooperate in righteousness and piety
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىSo cooperation in righteousness and piety is among the most important matters. If Allah guides them and they repent, then praise be to Allah. Otherwise, it is obligatory to cut off ties with them and boycott them until they straighten out and repent. This is the obligation upon Muslims, except for the parents. The parents have a different status. This is because Allah the Exalted said regarding disbelieving parents:
but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness
وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًاSo if they persist in disbelief, he does not cut off the advice, nor does he cut off the kindness. Rather, he continues in his advice and kindness until they submit or die. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and may He benefit us with your knowledge.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.