Is it permissible to seek forgiveness for a deceased person who did not pray?

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Question:
A questioner says: I asked my mother about my father, and she said: He used to do good, but he did not pray. Is it permissible for me to perform Hajj on his behalf, seek forgiveness for him, and make du'a' for him?

Answer:
If he did not pray, he is a disbeliever—may Allah protect us from that. One does not perform Hajj on his behalf, nor make du'a' for him. This is based on the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):

It is not for the Prophet and those who have believed to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were relatives

مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَى ۝

[At-Tawbah 9:113]

And the seeking of forgiveness by Abraham for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became clear to him that he was an enemy of Allah, he disavowed him. Indeed, Abraham was one who was full of concern and forbearing. [Surah al-Tawbah: 113-114].
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

Between a man and disbelief and shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the abandonment of prayer.

بين الرجل وبين الكفر والشرك ترك الصلاة

And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

The 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

Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam)

Prayer is the pillar of Islam. Whoever preserves it, preserves his religion, and whoever neglects it, neglects his religion. We ask Allah for safety.

Source binbaz.org.sa

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

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