One of them is this case. A view concerning it is attributed to the majority of them: Mālik, al-Shāfiʿī, and Ahmad. If he holds out until he is put to death, is he executed as a disbelieving apostate, or as a sinner like other sinful Muslims? There are two well-known opinions, both reported from Ahmad.

These hypothetical cases were not transmitted from the Companions, and they are unsound. For if he inwardly acknowledges prayer and believes it obligatory, it is impossible for him to persist in abandoning it until he is put to death without praying. Such conduct is unknown among human beings and contrary to their customary behaviour. For this reason, this has never occurred in Islam. No one is known to have believed prayer obligatory and been told, “Unless you pray, we will kill you,” yet persisted in abandoning it while acknowledging its obligation. This has never occurred in Islam.

Whenever a man refuses to pray even at the cost of being put to death, he does not inwardly acknowledge its obligation or commit himself to performing it. Such a person is a disbeliever by the agreement of the Muslims. Numerous reports from the Companions establish his disbelief, as do authentic scriptural texts, such as the Prophet’s words, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“Nothing stands between a servant and disbelief except abandoning prayer.”

Narrated by Muslim. He also said:

“The covenant between us and them is prayer; whoever abandons it has disbelieved.”

And ʿAbd Allāh ibn Shaqīq said:

“The Companions of Muhammad did not regard abandoning any deed as disbelief except prayer.”

Thus, someone who persists in abandoning prayer until he dies, never once prostrating to Allah, cannot possibly be a Muslim who acknowledges its obligation. For belief in