Ibn Bazz: Ruling on maintaining good relations with sinful friends

Ruling on maintaining good relations with sinful friends 

Q: I have a friend whom I love very much, but he does not offer the obligatory Salah (Prayer) or observe Sawm (Fast) during Ramadan. I have advised him many times, but he does not accept my advice. Should I keep good relations with him? 

A: This man and others like him should be hated and antagonized for the sake of Allah (Exalted be He). It is even allowable to abandon him until he shows repentance. This is because abandoning Salah, even without denying its obligation, is major Kufr (disbelief) according to the most correct opinion of scholars. This is based on the following Hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: What makes one a Kafir (disbeliever) and a Mushrik (one who associates others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) is abandoning Salah. (Related by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic) Book of Hadith)The Prophet (peace be upon him) also 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 the Ahl­ul­Sunan (authors of Hadith compilations classified by jurisprudential themes) with an authentic Sanad (chain of narrators)) 

There are many Hadith to the same effect. 

If a person denies the obligation of Salah, they are regarded as Kafirs according to Ijma` (consensus of scholars), as doing so implies belying Allah (Glorified be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him). May Allah protect us against this! 

As for the abandonment of Zakah (obligatory charity) and Sawm without a legal excuse, it is classified among the greatest crimes and major sins. 

( Part No : 10, Page No: 258) 

Some scholars are even of the view that whoever abandons Zakah or Sawm of Ramadan without a legal excuse, such as being sick or on a journey, is a Kafir. However, the sound opinion in this regard is that a person is not considered a Kafir so long as they do not deny the obligation of Zakah and Sawm. 

If a person denies the obligation of Zakah and Sawm or one of them or the obligation of Hajj when having the capacity, they are Kafirs according to Ijma` as this is tantamount to belying Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him). 

You should hate that person for the sake of Allah (Exalted be He) and you are allowed to abandon him until he turns to Allah in repentance. It is also permissible not to abandon him if it would be useful to call him to Allah and advise him so that Allah may grant him guidance. 

Muslim rulers should ask those known for abandoning Salah to repent otherwise they should be killed owing to Allah's Saying: But if they repent and perform As­Salât (Iqâmat­as­Salât), and give Zakât, then leave their way free. 

This indicates that a person who does not offer Salah should not be set free. Moreover, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: I have been prohibited from killing people who offer Salah. Thus, this Hadith indicates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) is not forbidden to kill those who do not offer Salah. Other evidence from the Qur'an and Hadith indicate that it is obligatory for the ruler to kill those who do not offer Salah if they do not repent. 

We ask Allah to guide your friend to Tawbah (repentance to Allah) and help him to follow the Straight Path. 

( Part No : 10, Page No: 259)