Is it true that whoever does not declare the one who abandons fasting, zakat, or Hajj to be a disbeliever is considered a Murji'ite and apostatizes from Islam? And when is the abandonment of the deeds of the limbs considered disbelief? Who are the Murji'ah? And what is the meaning of abandoning the deeds of the limbs?

Scholars have differed on the issue of declaring someone a disbeliever (kafir) who abandons one of the five pillars of Islam, while still acknowledging its obligation. Muslims are in agreement that whoever does not pronounce the Two Testimonies (Shahadatayn) is a disbeliever. However, concerning the other four practices, they differ on whether abandoning them constitutes disbelief.

Ibn Taymiyyah's Divergence: He referred to various narrations from Ahmad. Some of these narrations consider the abandonment of one of the pillars to be disbelief. Others consider the abandonment of only prayer and zakat to be disbelief. Some hold that abandoning prayer and zakat constitutes disbelief only if one fights the Imam over it. A fourth view states that only abandoning prayer is disbelief, and a fifth view maintains that abandoning none of these constitutes disbelief.

The Majority of Scholars: They do not declare someone a disbeliever who abandons fasting or zakat without denial of their obligation. It is not permissible to rule that someone who abandons fasting or withholds zakat is an apostate or a Murji'.

Ibn Rajab: Most Hadith scholars maintain that abandoning prayer is disbelief, unlike other pillars. This is what Muhammad ibn Nasr al-Marwazi and others recounted from them. Among those who held this view are Ibn al-Mubarak, Ahmad, and Ishaq.

Ibn Muflih al-Hanbali and al-Mardawi: One who abandons fasting, zakat, or Hajj due to negligence or stinginess is not considered a disbeliever.

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen: He believes the correct view is that disbelief occurs only by abandoning prayer, and that the majority of scholars do not declare someone a disbeliever for abandoning fasting.

Abandoning Deeds: The genus of deeds is among the requisites of the heart's faith, and whoever abandons it is a disbeliever. However, abandoning individual deeds does not constitute disbelief.

Salih Aal al-Shaykh: According to Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah, deeds are included in the definition of faith. Whoever abandons the genus of deeds is a disbeliever, because Islam and faith are not valid without performing deeds.