Question
(#239)
Assalamualaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
What is the ruling on a person who previously for last 10 years lived a life of a nominal muslim barely praying and practicing islam until Allah(SWT) gave him hidayah to make him religious and offer salah regularly. Will such a person until he started praying deemed to be a muslim?
Since at the time of his nikah and when he became a father he hardly ever prayed and did not live a life of a practicing muslim for the longest time so in this case will the status of his nikah and his children be considered islamically legitimate ?
Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
حامدا و مصليا و مسلما
Muhtaram
We have received your query dated 23/02/25, our response is as follows:
Not fulfilling ones religious obligations such as Salaah etc is an extremely grave sin in Islam which draws the wrath of Almighty Allah Ta’ala. Therefore, punctuality on ones Deeni obligations is of utmost importance. Sincere Tauba and Istighfar should be made for one’s previous shortcomings and Qadha of ones Salaah and any other religious obligations like fasting etc should be made up as soon as possible.
However, negligence in performing ones religious duties does not take a person out of the fold of Islam. Thus, a person will be considered a Muslim and his marriage will be valid. Yes, to utter words of disbelief willingly, rejecting Salaah (or any such similar command), Istihza (mockery of the Deen), Ihanah (trying to humiliate the Deen), Istikhfaf ( looking down on the orders of Deen) and Istihlal (regarding a clear Haram matter in Shariah as Halal) will take one out of the fold of Islam.[1]
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Answered by:
Muhammad Irshad Motara
1st Ramadan 1446
2nd Feb 2025
[1] البحر الرائق، باب احكام المرتدين: ص ١١٩، ج ٥، سعيد
الفتاوى الهندية، كتاب الصلاة: ص ٥٠، ج ١، ص ٢٨٣، ج ٢، رشيدية
رد المحتار، كتاب الصلاة، ص ٣٥٢، ج ١، سعيد
ولا يقضى بكفر وارتداد بعهر او بقتل واختزال (ضوء المعالى على منظومة بدء الأمالي، ص: ١٤٧)
ولا يخرج العبد من الايمان الا بجحود ما ادخله فيه…واهل الكبائر من امة محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم في النار لا يخلدون إذا ماتوا…ولا نشهد عليهم بكفر ولا شرك ولا نقاق ما لم يظهر منهم من ذلك شيء (العقيدة الطحاوية)
والكبيرة لا تخرج العبد المؤمن من الايمان ولا تدخله في الكفر (شرح العقائد النسفية)