Recently, I have become a committed Muslim who prays five times a day and tries hard to avoid sins. I live in the West, and my question relates to my parents. My parents also pray five times a day, but my dad suffers from insomnia and due to his medication sometimes misses the Fajr prayer. I want to know if they committed Kufr (disbelief) verbally (I do not know if they did) intentionally or unintentionally, and they do not know that what they did was Kufr, or they may have forgotten. They do say the testimony of faith in prayer, but I heard that for proper repentance from Kufr, one should regret what they did or said. How can they do this if they do not know what they said? Also, asking Allaah for forgiveness without knowing the sins that you committed, does that count as forgiveness? Also, they watch Pakistani TV dramas, and I believe that they think that it is not a sin or that it is a small sin which can be forgiven by offering prayers on time. Also, if they have committed Kufr and I do not call them disbelievers, does that make me a disbeliever? Please let me know, as I am very sad and heartbroken; my parents believe they are Muslims. The last few days, I have been crying a lot, thinking that they are doomed and can never be forgiven.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

You are affected with Waswaas (obsessive whispers) in this regard, and you must get rid of it because being carried away with it leads to great evil. 

You should know – may Allah guide you and protect you – that your parents are Muslims, praise be to Allah. You are not permitted at all to believe that they are disbelievers; rather, this is a sin in itself because accusing a Muslim of being Kaafir (disbeliever) is a grave matter. Please refer to fatwas 87963 and 8106. So you should not think about this matter because this is from the whispers and plots of the devil, and you should believe in the principle that your parents are Muslims and never believe otherwise.

You should endeavor to be kind and dutiful to your parents and treat them kindly. It is impermissible for them to watch TV dramas that include what is forbidden, so you should advise them in this regard in a very kind and gentle manner.

You should also advise your father kindly and gently regarding the Fajr prayer so that he would perform it on time. If he misses the prayer because of being overtaken by sleep, then he is not sinful and should pray whenever he wakes up.

Allah knows best.