What Is the Ruling for Those Who Do Not Pray?
ما حكم تارك الصلاة؟
What is the ruling for those who do not pray?
Islamic scholars unanimously agree that abandoning prayer out of denial or mockery constitutes disbelief. However, they hold differing views regarding a person who abandons it out of sheer laziness, classifying the act either as disbelief or a major sin.
The companions and Imams all agreed that he who abandons performing Salat due to his denial of it or mockery is an infidel.
What is the ruling for a person who abandons prayer because they deny it or mock it?
The companions and Imams all agreed that a person who abandons performing Salat due to denial or mockery is an infidel.
Are scholars in agreement regarding someone who abandons prayer out of laziness?
No, scholars have different opinions concerning the one who abandons prayer out of laziness. Some say that he is judged to have left Islam despite acknowledging prayer's obligation, while others say that he remains a Muslim but has committed a great sin.
The Ruling on Abandoning Prayer
1. Abandoning Prayer out of Laziness
As for the one who abandons it out of laziness, the scholars have different opinions concerning his case.
2. The Scholarly Differences on Laziness
Some of them say that he is judged to have left Islam despite acknowledging prayer's obligation, while others say that he is a Muslim, but he has committed a great sin.
Scholarly Insight: In Islamic theology (Aqeedah) and jurisprudence (Fiqh), the distinction between abandoning a pillar of Islam out of rejection (Juhood) versus laziness (Kasl) is crucial. Rejecting the obligation of Salah is a matter of consensus (Ijmaa') constituting major disbelief (Kufr Akbar), as it fundamentally belies the Quran and the Messenger. However, leaving it out of negligence while still believing in its obligation is where classic scholarly divergence (Ikhtilaf) occurs. The Hanbali school traditionally views it as disbelief, citing authentic Hadiths that equate abandoning prayer directly with disbelief, whereas the Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanafi schools generally categorize it as a major sin (Kabeerah), emphasizing that foundational belief (Iman) remains intact, albeit severely compromised.
ما حكم تارك الصلاة؟
أجمع علماء الإسلام على أن ترك الصلاة جحوداً واستهزاءً يعد كفراً. ومع ذلك، فقد اختلفوا في حكم من تركها تكاسلاً وتهاوناً، بين من يكفره ومن يعتبره مرتكباً لكبيرة من الكبائر.
أجمع الصحابة والأئمة أن من ترك الصلاة إنكاراً لها أو استهزاء بها فهو كافر مرتد.
حكم ترك الصلاة
1. ترك الصلاة تكاسلاً وتهاوناً
أما من تركها متهاونا ومتكاسلا فقد اختلف أهل العلم فيه على قولين.
2. الخلاف الفقهي في ترك التكاسل
قال بعضهم إنه كافر خارج عن الإسلام وقال بعضهم هو مسلم لكنه قد ارتكب كبيرة عظيمة من كبائر الذنوب.
1. Denying Obligation: Unanimous Disbelief (Kufr Juhud) | ترك الصلاة جحوداً وإنكاراً لفرضيتها
If an individual denies that prayer is obligatory, claiming it is unnecessary or outdated, they have apostatized from Islam by unanimous scholarly consensus (Ijma'). Denying an explicit, universally known pillar of the Quran nullifies faith.
فَلَا صَدَّقَ وَلَا صَلَّىٰ * وَلَـٰكِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ (سورة القيامة: 31-32)
أجمع علماء الأمة قاطبة على أن من ترك الصلاة منكرا لوجوبها وجاحدا لفرضيتها المعلومة من الدين بالضرورة فهو كافر مرتد عن الإسلام؛ لأنه كذب صريح القرآن الكريم والسنة النبوية المتواترة.
2. Neglecting Prayer Out of Laziness (Tark Kasalan) | ترك الصلاة تهاونا وكسلا وعظيم خطره
One who believes prayer is mandatory but abandons it due to deliberate laziness or worldly distractions, rather than unintentionally sleeping through a prayer, commits a monstrous crime worse than theft, adultery, or alcohol. The Prophet delivered severe warnings: "Between a person and polytheism and disbelief is the abandonment of prayer." (Sahih Muslim 82)
الْعَهْدُ الَّذِي بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمُ الصَّلاَةُ فَمَنْ تَرَكَهَا فَقَدْ كَفَرَ (الترمذي 2621، وصححه الألباني)
من كان مقرا بوجوب الصلاة لكنه يتركها تكاسلا وانشغالا بحطام الدنيا فقد ارتكب جرما شنيعا يفوق كبائر الذنوب؛ وتوعده الشارع بوعيد مغلظ في أحاديث نبوية متكاثرة كقوله ﷺ: "بين الرجل وبين الشرك والكفر ترك الصلاة" (صحيح مسلم 82).
3. The Jurisprudential Debate on the Lazy Person's Status | الخلاف الفقهي في حكم تارك الصلاة كسلاً
Imam Ahmad and scholars of Hadith held that completely abandoning prayer constitutes major disbelief (Kufr Akbar) that breaks the bond of Islam. Conversely, the majority (Abu Hanifah, Malik, and Ash-Shafi'i) ruled that such a person remains a Muslim who has committed a grievous major sin (Kufr Asghar).
فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَاتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيًّا (سورة مريم: 59)
اختلف أئمة المذاهب فيمن تركها كسلا مع الإقرار بفرضها: فذهب الإمام أحمد في المشهور عنه إلى كفره وردته عملا بظواهر النصوص النبوية، بينما ذهب جمهور الفقهاء (مالك والشافعي وأبو حنيفة) إلى أنه مسلم عاص مرتكب لكبيرة مهلكة تحت مشيئة الله.
4. The Inhabitants of Saqar | تساؤل أهل الجنة ومصير تاركي الصلاة
Surah Al-Muddaththir depicts the righteous in Paradise inquiring of the criminals plunged into the depths of the scorch of Saqar: "What put you into Saqar?" Their very first answer is: "We were not of those who prayed." Saqar is named four times in the Quran, as explained in how many times Saqar is mentioned in the Quran.
مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ * قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ (سورة المدثر: 42-43)
صور القرآن الكريم مشهدا أخرويا رهيبا يسأل فيه أهل الجنة المجرمين في نار سقر: {مَا سَلَكَكُمْ فِي سَقَرَ}؛ فكان أول اعتراف يخرج من أفواههم تصديقا لجرمهم: {قَالُوا لَمْ نَكُ مِنَ الْمُصَلِّينَ}، فبدأوا بترك الصلاة قبل كل ذنب.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What is the ruling on someone who denies that prayer is obligatory?
They are considered an apostate who has left Islam by unanimous scholarly consensus (Ijma').
What did the majority of scholars rule regarding someone who misses prayer out of laziness?
They ruled that the person is a grave sinner (Fasiq) who remains Muslim, though having committed a catastrophic major sin.
What was the position of Imam Ahmad regarding one who abandons prayer completely?
He considered complete, persistent abandonment of prayer to be major disbelief (Kufr Akbar).
What is the first excuse given by criminals in Hell in Surah Al-Muddaththir?
"We were not of those who prayed" (Surah Al-Muddaththir 74:43).