Is it obligatory for children to maintain ties with their father who has abandoned his wife for 15 years, does not provide for them, drinks alcohol, commits adultery, does not pray or fast, discriminates among his children, and has three other wives? And is it obligatory for them to maintain ties with their grandmother (the father’s mother) who incited her son not to provide for them, knowing that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “A severer of ties will not enter Paradise”?

Scholars have differed regarding the ruling on one who abandons prayer out of laziness, and the preponderant opinion is that he is a disbeliever, outside the fold of Islam. He should be called to repentance, and the gravity of his situation should be clarified to him. As for his children, they must accompany him with kindness and maintain ties with him, even if he severs ties with them, in compliance with Allah Almighty's command regarding honoring parents: "But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them, but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness." Perhaps their maintaining ties and their calling him [to Islam] will influence him.