The Ruling on Congregational Prayer and Delaying It for Shepherds in the Desert

Question:
We ask that you guide us regarding congregational prayer. We are desert Arabs, and as I mentioned, we are in the desert for the purpose of grazing sheep. We do not attend the Friday prayer or the congregational prayer because we are far from the mosques. Sometimes my brother and I pray at home, and at other times I pray alone. Does what we do count as similar to congregational prayer? We ask for your guidance. May Allah reward you with good. Also, sometimes we delay the prayer in order to reach home so that we can perform wudu. If we delay the prayer, even for half an hour, are we correct, or are we among those who break the fast? Please guide us. May Allah reward this questioner with good for his concern regarding matters of his religion and for alerting his brothers.

Answer:
Yes, prayer is obligatory upon every Muslim who has reached the age of accountability, and it does not drop off a Muslim under any circumstance as long as his mind remains. He performs it whether he is healthy or sick, whether he is traveling or resident, whether he is safe or afraid. Each person prays according to his condition. This includes shepherds in the desert who perform the prayer at its appointed times while they are grazing, wherever they are, based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) If there is water with him or near him that he can reach, it is obligatory for him to purify himself with water. If he does not find water, or if he is unable to purify himself with it due to illness or a shortage of water that is insufficient for his needs and wudu, he performs tayammum with clean earth and prays. If he is with one person or more, they pray in congregation, and it is not permissible for them to pray individually; rather, they establish the congregation, because the congregation is obligatory whenever it is possible, whether they are on land, at sea, or in a town. Two people or more constitute a congregation, as in the hadith. If they pray together, they have fulfilled what is obligatory upon them. This indicates the Muslim’s adherence to his religion and that he prays in the wilderness wherever he is. It was reported in the hadith the mountain where he grazes, following the places of shortening with his sheep, so when the time for prayer comes, he descends and prays. This is part of faith. In conclusion, it is obligatory for you to maintain the prayers.
If you are alone and no one is with you, you pray alone. If you are with someone else, even just one person, you pray in congregation, and it is not permissible for you to pray individually. As for delaying the prayer from the beginning of its time in order to reach water and perform wudu with it, there is no harm in that, if the water is near you and you can reach it before the time expires. In that case, you delay the prayer and pray with wudu. However, if the water is far away and you would not be able to pray except after the time has passed, you perform tayammum with clean earth and pray, and you do not delay the prayer beyond its time. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good,