Question Summary:
What should be said to a person who does Sunnah but leaves out Faraaidh?

Question Detail:

 
If a person follows some specific Sunnah (which he likes personally) and leaves important faraiz (e.g. Namaz etc) should we tell him to STOP following that Sunnah and ask him to look at faraiz first, or should we PRAISE him for following that Sunnah and ask him to also be a better Muslim by not leaving important Faraiz.
Case 1: A person likes a beard and keeps it knowing its Sunnah but doesn’t follow important Faraiz (e.g. Namaz, Roza)
Case 2: A person likes to bear arms and keeps it for defense purposes knowing its Sunnah but doesn’t follow important Faraiz (e.g. Namaz, Roza)

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
In changing and reforming a person’s views, hikmat (wisdom) and diplomacy is most important.
In Hikmat, one needs to consider the nature of the person and circumstances and use the best possible approach to reform his views and practices. If the person you refer to is well known to you, assess his situation and see what will make him accept your advice and adapt that.
In brief, merely informing is not the objective, reforming the person is important. Also make Dua and ask Allah Ta’ala for the person’s guidance and acceptance.
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Arshad Ali
Student Darul Iftaa
Trinidad
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
http://www.daruliftaa.net/