As-salaamu ‘Alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh.
I have a friend who does not pray and I would like to advise him to do so. To my knowledge, he does not deny its obligation. However, he does not pray, saying that he cannot deceive Allaah The Almighty and must pray after renouncing all evil deeds such as listening to forbidden recordings (i.e. music), looking at what is forbidden, smoking, backbiting and tale bearing. He says it is either this or he should not pray at all because he loves smoking and watching television. I ask you to give him some advice that he may read and thus be reformed. Please, advise him and I will be greatly thankful if you send your advice to my friend for his guidance may be in your hands. May Allaah The Almighty Reward you all the best for us. As-Salaamu ‘Alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

Dear brother, you and your friend should know that scholars have different opinions regarding the one who abandons prayer and does not deny its obligation. Some of them view that he is Kaafir (i.e. disbeliever) for there are explicit Hadeeths that were authentically reported from the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, regarding him as a disbeliever. Buraydah narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “The covenant that distinguishes between us and them is prayer and whoever abandons it has disbelieved.” [At-Tirmithi, An-Nasaa’i, Ibn Maajah, and Ahmad]

Some other scholars view that he should be executed but as a punishment and not because he became a disbeliever. They have no different opinions regarding the disbelief of one who abandons it denying its obligation.

Also, you should know that the one who abandons prayer turns away from the Remembrance of Allaah The Almighty. Allaah The Almighty Threatened this person with a depressed life and Will Gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind. We seek refuge in Allaah The Almighty from this. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind.}[Quran 20: 124]

If your friend went on doing evil deeds such as listening to forbidden recordings, looking at what is forbidden, smoking, backbiting and tale bearing, along with abandoning prayer, then how would he meet his Lord on the Day of Resurrection? ‘Ady ibn Haatim narrated that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, promised that we will talk to Allaah The Almighty directly, saying: “There will be none among you but his Lord Will Talk to him and there will be no interpreter between him and Allaah. He will look to his right and left and see nothing but his deeds which he has sent forth and will look in front of him and see nothing but the Hellfire facing him.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Moreover, if your friend is unable to endure the fire of the worldly life for only a minute, then how would he be if he remained for very long periods of time in Hellfire, which the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, described in the Hadeeth narrated by An-Nu‘maan ibn Basheer saying: “On the Day of Resurrection, the person who will receive the least punishment among the people of the Hellfire will be wearing two slippers made from the Fire of Hell causing his brain to boil just as a pot boils. He will think that none in the Hellfire is receiving a more severe torment than himself when, in fact, he is receiving the least torment.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]