The Ruling on One Who Abandons Prayer While Denying Its Obligation
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Q332: The questioner asks: What is the ruling on one who abandons prayer while denying its obligation?
A332: If a Muslim intentionally abandons prayer while denying its obligation, this takes him out of the fold of Islam by consensus; because he is denying Allah, His Messenger, and the consensus of the Muslims, and he is rejecting a necessary element of the essential tenets of the Islamic religion. As for if he acknowledges its obligation but abandons it out of laziness, there is disagreement among the Muslims, and the correct view is that he becomes a disbeliever due to many pieces of evidence, among which is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): And the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam) And Allah the Exalted said: [At-Tawbah 9:5] , and Allah the Exalted said: [At-Tawbah 9:11] ,
This indicates that if they do not establish prayer, their way is not to be left open, and they are not our brothers in religion; this means disbelief. Allah the Exalted said regarding the disbelievers whom the people of Paradise will ask on the Day of Resurrection:[Al-Muddaththir 74:42-47] , which indicates that what caused them to enter the Fire are attributes they possess, among which is abandoning prayer.
A332: If a Muslim intentionally abandons prayer while denying its obligation, this takes him out of the fold of Islam by consensus; because he is denying Allah, His Messenger, and the consensus of the Muslims, and he is rejecting a necessary element of the essential tenets of the Islamic religion. As for if he acknowledges its obligation but abandons it out of laziness, there is disagreement among the Muslims, and the correct view is that he becomes a disbeliever due to many pieces of evidence, among which is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Between the servant and disbelief or shirk (associating partners with Allah) is abandoning prayer
بين العبد وبين الكفر أو الشرك 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 كفرAnd when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
فَإِذَا انْسَلَخَ الْأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدْتُمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ وَاقْعُدُوا لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ فَإِنْ تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌBut if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, then they are your brothers in religion; and We detail the verses for a people who know.
فَإِنْ تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَإِخْوَانُكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَنُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَThis indicates that if they do not establish prayer, their way is not to be left open, and they are not our brothers in religion; this means disbelief. Allah the Exalted said regarding the disbelievers whom the people of Paradise will ask on the Day of Resurrection:
(42) [And asking them], "What put you into Saqar?" (43) They will say, "We were not of those who prayed, (44) Nor did we used to feed the poor. (45) And we used to enter into vain discourse with those who engaged [in it], (46) And we used to deny the Day of Recompense (47) Until there came to us the certainty."
مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ (42) قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ (43) وَلَمْ نَكُ نُطْعِمُ الْمِسْكِينَ (44) وَكُنَّا نَخُوضُ مَعَ الْخَائِضِينَ (45) وَكُنَّا نُكَذِّبُ بِيَوْمِ الدِّينِ (46) حَتَّى أَتَانَا الْيَقِينُ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.