Ibn Bazz: Keeping good relations with a brother who abandons Salah

Keeping good relations with a brother who abandons Salah 

Q: My elder brother does not offer Salah (Prayer). Should I keep good relations with him or not, taking into consideration that he is my half brother? 

A : Whoever abandons Salah deliberately commits major Kufr (disbelief), even if admitting the obligation of Salah, according to the most correct opinion of scholars. However, if one does not admit its obligation, they are considered Kafir (disbeliever) according to all scholars. This is because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The peak of the matter is Islam; its pillar is Salah; and its topmost part is Jihad (fighting/striving in the Cause of Allah). (Related by Imam Ahmad and Al­Tirmidhy with an authentic Sanad (chain of narrators))The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: What makes one a Kafir and a Mushrik (one who associates others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) is abandoning Salah. (Related by Muslim inhis Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith) Also, Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: That which differentiates us from them (i.e. non­Muslims) is our performance of Salah. Anyone who abandons it becomes a Kafir. (Related by Imam Ahmad and Ahl­ul­Sunan (authors of Hadith compilations classified by jurisprudential themes) with an authentic Sanad)No scholar debates the Kufr of those who deny the obligation of Salah, as this entails belying Allah and His Messenger and opposing the Ijma` (consensus) of scholars. Thus, it is considered graver than abandoning Salah out of laziness. Yet in both case, rulers should ask the one who abandons Salah to repent; otherwise they should be killed according to evidence on this issue. In addition, a person who abandons Salah should be deserted and avoided, and their invitations should not be accepted until they repent to Allah. One should advise them, call them to Al­Haqq (the Truth), and warn them against the punishment of abandoning Salah both in this life and in the Hereafter. They may turn to Allah in repentance and Allah forgives them and accepts their repentance.