Do those who pray over the deceased who abandoned prayer bear sin, or does the sin lie with the family of the deceased who washed him and prayed over him? And does the ruling differ if this occurs in Mecca or Medina?

Scholars have differed regarding the ruling on one who abandons prayer due to laziness. The majority of imams held the view that such a person does not commit an act of disbelief that expels him from the fold of Islam, and it is permissible to pray over him and supplicate for him. Imam Ahmad and a group of scholars, however, were of the opinion that such a person commits an act of disbelief that expels him from the fold of Islam, and thus it is not permissible to pray over him or supplicate for him.

As for one who abandons prayer out of denial (juhood), there is a consensus among all scholars that he commits an act of disbelief that expels him from the fold of Islam, and it is not permissible to pray over him or supplicate for him, due to the Almighty's saying: "And never (O Muhammad) pray for anyone of them who dies, nor stand by his grave. Certainly, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and died while they were Fasiqun (rebellious, disobedient to Allah and His Messenger)."

Based on the view that one who abandons prayer does not commit an act of disbelief, it is obligatory to wash his body (ghusl), shroud him, and pray over him, just like any other Muslim. However, for the one who denies (juhood), it is never permissible to pray over him, and the sin falls upon the one who knows his condition. As for one who prays over him without knowing his condition, there is no sin upon him.