❖ Shariah Ruling on the One Who Abandons Ṣalāh Permanently ❖
Answered by: Fadīlat al-Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakīl Nāṣir Ḥafiẓahullāh
❀ Question:
Is a person who permanently abandons ṣalāh (prayer) considered a disbeliever (kāfir) in Islam?
✔ Answer:
There is no doubt that the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ viewed the one who abandons ṣalāh as a disbeliever. This is supported by the well-known statement of ʿAbdullāh ibn Shaqīq رحمه الله:
“كَانَ أَصْحَابُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، لَا يَرَوْنَ شَيْئًا مِنَ الْأَعْمَالِ تَرْكُهُ كُفْرٌ غَيْرَ الصَّلَاةِ”
“The Companions of Muḥammad ﷺ did not consider the abandonment of any deed to be disbelief—except for ṣalāh (prayer).”
[Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 2622]
This clearly demonstrates that, according to the understanding of the noble Companions, a person who abandons prayer is regarded as a disbeliever.
✿ Important Clarification:
➤ Such a person may be described as a “ʿamali kāfir” (disbeliever in action), but it is not appropriate to declare him as a “iʿtiqādi kāfir” (disbeliever in belief)—
Because the reality of what lies in the heart is known only to Allah.
➤ Declaring someone a complete kāfir (in belief and creed) requires clear and explicit evidence, and must be approached with caution.
✔ Summary:
➤ According to the Companions, abandoning ṣalāh was considered an act of kufr.
➤ A permanent abandoner of ṣalāh may be considered a disbeliever in action.
➤ However, unless there is clear evidence of rejection in belief, we do not label him a disbeliever in creed.
➤ Matters of the heart are with Allah alone, and passing judgment on someone’s eternal fate should be avoided without certainty.
