Is a Muslim Who Only Prays Jumuʿah a Disbeliever? Ruling on Salah, Kalimah, and Greeting
Source: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ Ahl al-Ḥadīth
❖ Questions
➊ A person prays only the Friday (Jumuʿah) prayer and leaves all the other prayers. Is such a person considered a disbeliever?
➋ Will a person who professes the Kalimah of Tawḥīd remain in Hell forever, or will he be taken out because of the Kalimah?
➌ Should one greet such a person with salām?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«مَنْ تَرَکَ صَلاَۃَ الْعَصْرِ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَملُه»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb Mawāqīt al-Ṣalāh, Bāb man taraka ṣalāt al-ʿaṣr, ḥadīth: 553)
“Whoever abandons the ʿAṣr prayer, his deeds are nullified.”
✿ Explanation
◄ From this ḥadīth it is clear that if someone abandons even one prayer such as ʿAṣr, his deeds are wasted. Thus, the Jumuʿah prayer of one who abandons other obligatory prayers is also wasted.
◄ Therefore, the first two questions are answered by this ḥadīth itself.
✿ The Third Question: Greeting Such a Person
It is correct to greet such a person with salām, because outwardly he presents himself as a Muslim.
◄ It is known regarding ʿAbdullāh ibn Ubayy ibn Salūl and his companions that they recited the Kalimah and even performed prayer.
◄ However, kufr was present in their hearts. Hence, it is established that if disbelief resides in the heart, mere recitation of the Kalimah will not save a person
