Ans.26: There is no doubt according to us that it is the thought of the scholars of our madhabs that the one who leaves the prayer is a disbeliever so he is not given form the zakat as this is a right of the Muslim upon the Muslim. This is due to the saying of the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) when he sent Mu’aadh (radhi Allaahu ‘anhu) to Yemen and said, ‘If they obey you in that then take from them the sadaqah (charity); take it from their rich and give it to the poor.’ He means the rich of the Muslims, and what your father has done is correct.

But I am of the opinion that he should return to his family and he should advise them and make it clear to them and teach them that the one who leaves the prayer becomes a kaafir (disbeliever) so if they return to the prayer then he can give them the zakah. However if they persist in not praying then he should not give them any zakah and keep it away from them. The questioner asked if ‘nobody can give zakat in this situation?’ Then this is not correct, as we know poor Muslims in Canada and America – there is a brother Muhammad bin Ali ‘Ajaal in Ottawa (Canada) and he is regarded as a good brother who helps the poor in Canada and we advise you to get in touch with him.