The third is that he becomes a disbeliever only by abandoning prayer. This is the third position reported from Ahmad, and the view of many of the early generations, a group of Mālik’s and al-Shāfi‘ī’s followers, and a group of Ahmad’s followers.

The fourth is that only abandoning prayer or zakat renders him a disbeliever.

The fifth is that abandoning prayer renders him a disbeliever, as does withholding zakat if he fights the ruler over it, but not abandoning fasting or Hajj.

This issue has two aspects: the first concerns establishing outward disbelief, and the second concerns establishing inward disbelief.

As for the second aspect, it rests upon the question of faith consisting of speech and action, as discussed above. It is impossible for a man to have firmly established faith in his heart that Allah has obligated him to pray, pay zakat, fast, and perform Hajj, yet live his entire life without making a single prostration to Allah, fasting any part of Ramadan, paying any zakat for Allah’s sake, or performing Hajj to His House. This is impossible. Such conduct can only arise from hypocrisy and heresy in the heart, not from genuine faith.

For this reason, it is only the disbelievers whom He, glorified be He, describes as refusing to prostrate, as in His words:

“On the Day when the Shin will be uncovered and they will be called to prostrate, but will be unable to do so.”

“Their eyes downcast, humiliation will overwhelm them, although they used to be called to prostrate while they were sound.”