How to Deal with a Friend who does not Pray

Question :

I have a friend who is very dear to me, who has a very high and noble character. His problem, though, is that he doesn't pray. As I said, I love him for his good manners. I don't know whether I should continue my friendship with him. O noble Shaykh, I would like to know how to impress the importance of prayer upon him. But if he persists in not praying, should I leave him?

Answer:

Prayer is a pillar of Islam, the greatest one after the Shahadahs. Whosoever observes the prayer, will preserve his religion; whosoever abandons it, will more readily abandon other precepts of his religion. In an authentic Hadith, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"The covenant between us and them is the Salah; whoever leaves it, has disbelieved."

Recorded by Imam Ahmad and the Sunan compilers, with an authentic chain.

In a Hadith narrated by Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Between a man and disbelief and Shirk is leaving the prayer, 'Abdullah bin Shaqeeq Al-'Uqayli, a trusted Tabi'i, confirmed that, "The Prophet's Companions would not deem leaving a deed disbelief, except for the prayer." That is why a number of scholars hold the view that the disbelief from abandoning it is major disbelief, even if he does not reject that it is obligatory.

This is due to the previous Hadiths as well as others reported with similar meaning. And this is the truth, which there no doubt in. Other scholars say that he has disbelieved in that he committed the lesser disbelief, but that his crime is greater than fornication or stealing. Nevertheless, all scholars agree that the rejection of its obligatory nature is disbelief.

With this, questioner, you should know that you must advise and warn the person you mentioned against the danger of abandoning the prayer. If he repents, then all praise is Allah's. If not, then you are obliged to hate him for the sake of Allah and absolve yourself of him until he repents to Allâh from his disbelief. Allâh Almighty says:
"Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibrahim and those with him, when they said to their people: "Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allah, we have rejected you, and there has started between us and you, hostility and hatred forever until you believe in Allah alone."

This is obligatory for every Muslim with the rest of the acts of disbelief, whether it is the disbelief of abandoning the prayer, or refusing to accept it as being obligatory, or in cursing or mocking the religion of Islam, or in any other kind of disbelief. We ask Allâh Almighty to keep you, us, and all of the Muslims safe from what angers Him; He is the best to ask.