and the Sunnah, we find that both the Book and the Sunnah alike indicate that the one who abandons the prayer falls into major disbelief that ejects him from the religion.

First, evidence from the Book:

Allah the Exalted says in Surah at-Tawbah: “But if they repent, establish the prayer, and give the zakah, then they are your brothers in faith.” ⦗at-Tawbah: 11⦘

And He says in Surah Maryam: “Then there came after them successors who neglected the prayer and followed their desires; so they will meet ruin—except for those who repent, believe, and do righteous deeds. Such people will enter the Garden and will not be wronged in the least.” ⦗Maryam: 59-60⦘

The proof in the second verse—the one from Surah Maryam—is that Allah, speaking of those who squander the prayer and pursue their passions, says: “except for those who repent and believe,” which shows that while they were neglecting the prayer and following desires, they were not believers.

The proof in the first verse—the one from Surah at-Tawbah—is that Allah, exalted be He, made the bond of brotherhood between us and those former polytheists conditional upon three matters:

• that they repent from polytheism,
• that they establish the prayer,
• and that they give the zakah.