How to advise a father who does not pray
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Question:
My father does not establish prayer in the mosque, nor in the house. If I order him to establish prayer and he does not pray, am I obligated to leave the house, or not?
Answer:
You must advise him constantly, and strive to advise him with a good manner and kind words. You should not leave, because your presence with him is one of the causes of his guidance. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said regarding polytheist parents: [Luqman: 15]. Allah ordered the children of polytheists to accompany them in this world with kindness, and He did not order them to leave them.
So you accompany him in this world with kindness, with kind words, fulfilling his permissible needs, his food, drink, and clothing. You advise him constantly, you supplicate for him in your prostration, at the end of your prayer, and at all times, that Allah will guide him, that Allah will bestow success upon him, and that He will expand his heart for faith. Do not leave him, but use good methods, kind words, and gentleness, so that perhaps Allah will guide him through your means.
Also, strive to have good people whom he knows and respects come to him, so that they may advise him and help you with the causes of guidance.
My father does not establish prayer in the mosque, nor in the house. If I order him to establish prayer and he does not pray, am I obligated to leave the house, or not?
Answer:
You must advise him constantly, and strive to advise him with a good manner and kind words. You should not leave, because your presence with him is one of the causes of his guidance. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said regarding polytheist parents:
But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness
وَإِنْ جَاهَدَاكَ عَلَى أَنْ تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًاSo you accompany him in this world with kindness, with kind words, fulfilling his permissible needs, his food, drink, and clothing. You advise him constantly, you supplicate for him in your prostration, at the end of your prayer, and at all times, that Allah will guide him, that Allah will bestow success upon him, and that He will expand his heart for faith. Do not leave him, but use good methods, kind words, and gentleness, so that perhaps Allah will guide him through your means.
Also, strive to have good people whom he knows and respects come to him, so that they may advise him and help you with the causes of guidance.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.