What is the stronger opinion regarding the ruling on the one who abandons prayer?

Question:
His Eminence Shaykh Abdul Aziz ibn Baz, peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings. As for what follows:
We ask you, Your Eminence, to tell us your opinion on an issue in which we are confused due to the multiplicity of opinions. It is: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: , and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . So we ask you, Your Eminence, to clarify for us the meaning of the word “disbelief” (kufr), and when a person is considered a disbeliever. Is the intent of the hadith that the one who abandons prayer is considered a disbeliever if he abandons it out of laziness and lethargy? Or if he abandons it out of denial and rejection? Or if he abandons it in any state whatsoever? Please issue a ruling on this, may Allah reward you with good. Your brother in Allah, Hazim Kamil, Kuwait.

Answer:
Abandoning prayer is among the greatest of crimes and among the greatest of major sins; because prayer is the pillar of Islam, and because it is the greatest of the pillars after the two testimonies. If he abandons it while denying its obligation, or mocking it, or ridiculing it, even if he performs it, then he is a disbeliever by the consensus of the Muslims, and he is an apostate from Islam if he abandons it while denying its obligation or mocks it and ridicules it. This is considered major disbelief (shirk akbar) and apostasy from Islam by the consensus of the Muslims.
As for if he abandons it out of laziness and negligence, while he knows that it is obligatory, and he is not mocking it or ridiculing it, but he respects it, yet he may abandon it at some times out of negligence and laziness, as some people do with the Fajr prayer, not praying it, or perhaps abandoning the 'Asr prayer or the 'Isha' prayer or the like, then there is scholarly disagreement (khilaf) regarding this. Some of the scholars said: He becomes a disbeliever with major disbelief, and they argue with the two hadiths you mentioned, O questioner. They are two authentic hadiths from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). One of them is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): . Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal narrated it in the Musnad with a good chain, and Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, and others also narrated it with an authentic chain from Buraydah ibn al-Husayb al-Aslami (may Allah be pleased with him) , from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
The second hadith is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): . Imam Muslim narrated it in his Sahih from Jabir ibn 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both), from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
They said: And disbelief, when it is known, is major disbelief, and likewise shirk, when it is known, is major shirk. So the meaning of: “Between the man and falling into major disbelief and major shirk is the abandonment of prayer” includes the one who abandons it out of denial and the one who abandons it out of laziness. This opinion is the correct one and the most accurate of the scholars' opinions: that the one who abandons it out of laziness becomes a disbeliever with major disbelief. The third hadith also indicates this, which is his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) when he was asked about the rulers who neglect the religion after him (peace and blessings be upon him). He said to the people: . This is how it came in the authentic hadith in the two Sahihs. In a narration, he said: . This indicates that abandoning prayer and not establishing it is considered open disbelief (kufr biwah), which necessitates rising against the ruler if he abandons that, and he is considered a disbeliever with open disbelief, and it is obligatory that the Muslims rise against him until another is appointed over the Muslims.
So the intent is that abandoning prayer, according to the most correct opinion, is considered open disbelief.
Others among the scholars went to the interpretation (ta'wil) of these two hadiths, and that the intent is disbelief less than disbelief, and shirk less than shirk, and that one is not declared a disbeliever by it unless he denies its obligation or mocks it. Rather, he is a sinner, and he has committed a great and major crime, but he is not a disbeliever with major disbelief. This is the well-known position of the madhhab of Malik, al-Shafi'i, Abu Hanifah, and a group. But the first opinion is more correct, more accurate, and closer to the evidence.
So it is obligatory for every Muslim to beware of that, and to be upright in performing prayer, and that his job or his desires do not prevent him from establishing prayer at its time. Rather, he must beware of that. Likewise, it is not permissible for him to comply with bad companions in that. Rather, he must beware of that and be strong against bad companions, commanding them to prayer and helping them with it. And if they abandon it, he should part from them and oppose them, and perform it at its time. This is my advice to every Muslim. Let every Muslim fear Allah, and let him beware of abandoning prayer, for abandoning it is among the greatest of crimes. Indeed, abandoning it is major disbelief in the most correct of the scholars' opinions. Because of this, it is not permissible for his Muslim wife to remain with him; rather, she must part from him and abstain from him until he repents to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) from abandoning prayer. May Allah grant everyone health and guidance.

The presenter: O Allah, amen. So if Your Eminence the Shaykh permits me a summary of the answer: The one who abandons it out of laziness and negligence is a disbeliever?

The Shaykh: Yes, major disbelief in the correct opinion... in the most correct of the scholars' opinions.

The presenter: Like the one who abandons it while denying its obligation?

The Shaykh: Like the one who abandons it while denying it, but the one who abandons it while denying it, that is by consensus.

The presenter: The one who abandons it while denying it...

The Shaykh: The Muslims have agreed that he is a disbeliever with major disbelief. But the one who abandons it out of laziness, while he knows that it is obligatory, and he acknowledges that it is obligatory, but his laziness, negligence, and lack of concern lead him to abandon it, this is the one in which there is disagreement. And the correct opinion is that he becomes a disbeliever with major disbelief due to the hadiths you heard in the answer. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and benefit with your knowledge, and guide the Muslims to the rectification of their religion.

The Shaykh: Amen... Amen... Amen.