to you the Book as a clarification of all things” (16:89). He likewise addressed His Prophet: “And We have sent down to you the Reminder so that you may clarify to the people what has been revealed to them” (16:44).

Second: Taking into account a description that the Lawgiver has not made the basis of the ruling.

Denying the obligation of the five daily prayers constitutes disbelief for anyone who is not excused by ignorance, whether he prays or not. Even if a person were to perform all five prayers, fulfilling every condition, pillar, wajib, and recommended act, yet—without excuse—denied that they are obligatory, he would be a disbeliever despite the fact that he had not abandoned them.

It is therefore clear that restricting the texts to someone who abandons the prayer while denying its obligation is invalid. The correct view is that the one who abandons the prayer is a disbeliever whose disbelief expels him from the religion, as is stated explicitly in the report recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim in his Sunan from ʿUbadah b. as-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him). He said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed us, “Do not associate anything with Allah, and do not deliberately abandon the prayer; whoever deliberately abandons it has left the faith.”

Furthermore, were we to interpret the texts as referring only to denial, mentioning the prayer specifically would serve no purpose, for this ruling applies equally to zakah, fasting, and pilgrimage: whoever denies the obligation of any one of them has disbelieved