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﴿ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴾

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What is the ruling on sitting with and eating with relatives who abandon prayer?

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Question:
I have relatives who do not pray. Is it permissible for me to sit with them and eat with them? And what is required of me if I do so?

Answer:
If you have relatives who do not pray, you must rebuke them, call them to Allah with wisdom, good manner, and kind words, and warn them of Allah. Say to them: "Fear Allah. Prayer is the pillar of Islam. Whoever abandons it commits disbelief." Also, seek Allah's help against them. Ask your Lord to assist them by granting them guidance, helping them in good, and bestowing upon them repentance. Make du'a for them in your prostration, at the end of your prayer, and in other times.
Likewise, go to them with a group of good brothers—two or three—to help you, so that you advise them. Because if you come with a group, it is more likely to have an impact than if you come alone. So have two or three with you, and you advise and guide them, perhaps Allah will guide them through your efforts. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer.مَن دلَّ على خيرٍ فله مثل أجر فاعله
Sahih Muslim 1893a
It was narrated by Muslim in "Sahih." And he also said (peace and blessings be upon him):
if one man is guided on the right path (i.e. converted to Islam) through you, it would be better for you than (a great number of) red camels.لأن يهدي الله بك رجلًا واحدًا خيرٌ لك من حمر النعم
Sahih al-Bukhari 3701
It is agreed upon that it is authentic. He said this to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). And Allah says in His great Book:
and enjoin upon one another truthوَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ
[Al-Asr:3]. So He described the people of faith by their mutual exhortation to truth, and He said:
cooperate in righteousness and pietyوَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى
[Al-Ma'idah:2].
Therefore, it is obligatory for you to help them in righteousness and piety, and to advise them. If they do not respond, you must boycott them. Do not sit with them, do not accept their invitations, and do not invite them to your food until they pray. However, this does not prevent you from advising them while boycotting them. You and your brothers, whom you can take to them, should advise, guide, instruct, enjoin good, and forbid evil.
May Allah grant success to everyone.
Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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