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Fatwa CenterMother and Brother Pray Irregularly
Question
My mother and brother don't pray regularly. I want to see them praying five times. They are not listening to my words. Can you guide me?
Answer
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.
Giving up obligatory the prayer or delaying it from its fixed time without a sound Islamic reason is among the major sins. A group of scholars are of the view that the person who gives up praying becomes a Kaafir (disbeliever). Their evidence is the following Hadeeth:
Jabir 
narrated that the Prophet said: “Between a person and disbelief and polytheism is abandoning the prayer.” [Muslim]
Besides, Buraydah narrated that the Prophet said: “The covenant between us and them is the prayer. Whoever gives it up becomes a Kaafir.” [Ahmad, an-Nasaa'i and at-Tirmithi]
Most Muslim scholars are of the opinion that the person who deliberately gives up the prayer may be killed as a retributive punishment (Hadd) but not because he has become a Kaafir (non-Muslim). This is the opinion of Maalik and ash-Shaafi’i.
Therefore, you should make these rulings clear to your mother and brother. Tell them also that the prayer is the first thing a person will be brought to account on the Day of Judgment.
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said: “The first thing for which the person will be brought to account is his prayer. If it is valid, then he has succeeded. But if it is invalid, then he has lost and will be disappointed.” [at-Tirmithi, Abu Dawood and an-Nasaa'i]
However, you should remain obedient to them, especially your mother. Be soft in speech and call them with wisdom and good admonition. You may also seek the help of any person whom you think can be of help.
Finally, continue supplicating for them, that Allah guides them and makes them steadfast. You should observe the times when the supplication is usually answered.
For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 81555, 384457, 377344, 22343, 18953.
Allah knows best.
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