[Q 158] Does Intentionally Missing Prayers Make One a Disbeliever?

Question

If a muslim who misses his salah deliberately does he leave the fold of islam

i.e become a non muslim.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

Intentionally neglecting prayer (i.e. not praying) is undoubtedly impermissible and a major sin, but this act does not turn a Muslim into a Kafir, i.e. a non-believer. Rather, he or she remains a Muslim as before. The scholars have given several interpretations of the hadith that states that the person who intentionally neglects prayer becomes a non-believer.

1. If a person neglects prayer because he or she believes it (i.e. not praying) is permissible, then this is actually kufr.

2. Neglecting prayer will lead the non-praying person to kufr.

3. Neglecting prayer is one of the acts of kufr, since non-believers also do not pray.

4. The non-praying person is called a non-believer as a form of rebuke and warning.

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)

Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated by: Usman Attari