Seeking Guidance: How To Deal With A Knowledgeable Relative Who Abandons Prayer
No there is no need t boycott or distance yourself from him. Namaz is private and personal spiritual act. Boycott is only justified when he is harming others, spreading corruption, or mocking religion publicly or when distance will bring reform. Namaz is an obligation, but guidance can not be enforced through coercion. What your brother might be going through is spiritual exhaustion not lack of knowledge or anything else. It’s better you don’t force him even if you do it very politely or calmly namaz will become related to pressure and performance Give him time and let him figure out himself what namaz is All you can do is just have occasional, natural conversations about faith and prayer, without aiming to convince or correct just so u can exchange your pov’s on islam and he might get a knew piece of perspective from you that can help him.(But make sure u don’t force anything just a random discussion) {Personal note: i started praying when i was like in 8th class and prayed even tahajjud everyday for like 3 years, then after that i reach a period where i couldn’t pray or feel anything towards namaz or Allah it was spiritual exhaustion. At first i tried even harder and harder cuz i was afraid i started praying even more but then all of sudden i didn’t wanna pray at all so i stopped praying altogether. I was afraid and scared that i am missing so many prayers but even then i prayed it felt like i am doing some ritual or physical exercise. Then after a period of like 1.5 years i stopped praying and not a week ago i found a new baseline a new meaning of prayer it makes me motivated and not exhausted at all and i am so happy that i got this insight. I didn’t forced myself at the end and focused more on meaning then namaz itself. I tried and understood the whole religion and this gave me new sight for my spiritual connection to Allah.) So let him figure out himself all you can do is pray for him and just have discussion’s.
Thanks for your time.jazzakallah