Punishing the body of one who did not pray

Question

Zayd never prayed in his life; he prayed only [the prayers of] the two Eids. Some people say that all those praying should give his body three jolts and only then perform the prayer, otherwise they will all be sinners. Is this practice correct? And will the funeral prayer be performed for him or not?

Answer

Prayer is an individual obligation (fard ‘ayn); not performing it one’s whole life is a very great offence and a grievous deprivation. May Allah the Pure forgive him. The funeral prayer for him is obligatory (lazim). Giving [the body] three jolts is not established in the Shari‘a; it is ignorance of the utmost degree.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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