The Definition of Kufr

Question

What is the position of imam al-Shafi‘i ﵀ concerning one who deliberately abandons the prayer? If somewhere in the books it appears that imam al-Shafi‘i’s ﵀ fatwa is one of kufr, write about it with explanation. What is the technical — comprehensive and exclusive — definition of kufr, established from the Qur’an and hadith? And are there degrees with respect to entering into kufr and not entering it, or not?

Answer

According to the Shafi‘is, one who deliberately abandons the prayer without any excuse is to be executed by way of hadd, but in their view he does not become a disbeliever. [ar]مَنْ أَخْرَجَ مِنَ الْمُكَلَّفِينَ مَكْتُوبَةً كَسَلًا — وَلَوْ جُمُعَةً وَإِنْ قَالَ أُصَلِّيهَا ظُهْرًا — عَنْ أَوْقَاتِهَا كُلِّهَا قُتِلَ حَدًّا لَا كُفْرًا[/ar] “Whoever among the legally…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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