an apostate, or a sinner? There are two well-known positions on this in the school of Ahmad and among other scholars. What is transmitted from most of the early generations implies that he is an unbeliever. This concerns someone who acknowledges that prayer is obligatory. As for someone who denies its obligation, he is an unbeliever by consensus.

Indeed, guardians must instruct a child to pray upon reaching seven years of age and strike him for failing to pray at ten, as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded when he said:

“Instruct them to pray at seven, strike them for failing to pray at ten, and give them separate sleeping places.”

The same applies to the obligatory purification and other requirements of prayer.

Completing this duty entails attending to the Muslims’ mosques and their imams, and instructing the imams to lead them in prayer as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prayed. He said:

“Pray as you have seen me pray.”

Narrated by al-Bukhārī.

“He once led his Companions in prayer on the edge of the pulpit and said: ‘I have done this only so that you may follow me and learn how I pray.’”

Whoever leads the people, in prayer or otherwise, must look to their welfare, ensuring that they do not miss out on anything that completes their religious practice and depends upon his actions. Indeed, every prayer leader must lead them in a complete prayer, rather than confining himself to the minimum sufficient for validity that someone praying alone may observe, unless there is a valid excuse. The same applies to their leader during Hajj and their commander in war.

Do you not see that an agent or guardian conducting sales and purchases must act in the best financial interests of his principal or ward? Yet, with his own wealth, he may forgo whatever benefit he wishes. Thus, the matter of