The Ruling on One Who Denies the Obligation of Prayer
Source: Fatāwā Amnpūrī by Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Amnpūrī
❀ Question
What is the ruling on a person who denies the obligation of prayer?
❀ Answer
Prayer (ṣalāh) is a fundamental pillar of Islam. Its obligation is established through numerous Qur’ānic verses and mass-transmitted (mutawātir) aḥādīth. Denying it constitutes disbelief (kufr).
❀ Ḥāfiẓ Ibn al-Jawzī رحمه الله (d. 597 AH) said:
اتفق العلماء على أن من ترك الصلاة جاحدا لوجوبها فهو كافر
“The scholars are in agreement that whoever abandons prayer while denying its obligation is a disbeliever.”
(Kashf al-Mushkil, 3/77)
