Ruling on one who reads Qur’aan but does not pray

Prayer
is the greatest pillar of Islam after the Shahaadatayn. The Messenger of
Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Between a
person and kufr and shirk stands the abandonment of prayer.” (Narrated
by al-Tirmidhi, 2766. Classed as saheeh by Ibn Maajah, 1078,and by al-Albaani).

 Salaah
is so called because it is a connection (silah) between a person and his
Lord. Whoever does not pray, his zakaah, fasting, Hajj, jihaad, enjoining
of what is good, forbidding of what is evil, reading of Qur’aan and
upholding of family ties will not be accepted. Indeed, all his good deeds
will be rejected if he does not pray.

 The
scholars, including Imaam Ahmad, said that whoever does not pray should be
executed as a kaafir, and his body should not be washed or shrouded, the
funeral prayer should not be offered over him, he should not be buried in
the Muslims’ graveyard and his Muslim heirs cannot inherit from him.

 It
is not permissible for you to abandon prayer, because you never know when
death will catch you unawares.

 The
Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said
at the end of his life, during his final sickness:

“(Adhere
to) prayer, (adhere to) prayer and (take care of) those whom your right
hands possess (i.e., slaves).”

(Narrated
by Imaam Ahmad, 3/117; Ibn Maajah, 2697; Ibn Hibbaan, 1220. Classed as
saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Irwaa’,
no.2178).

 Prayer
is the pillar of Islam. Imaam Ahmad said: Your share of Islam is according
to your share of prayer. What we want for you is for you to pray
regularly, doing the prayers on time with the Muslims in their mosques. It
is haraam for you to abandon prayer, for abandoning it is kufr. This issue
has been discussed in great detail by the scholars in their books. And it
was said that (the one who abandons prayer) is to be executed as a
punishment, as is well known. And Allaah knows best.