Students in Schools Abandoning the Fajr Prayer and Guidance for Principals
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The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, the questioner says: In many schools, at all levels—primary, middle, and secondary—it has become apparent that they are abandoning the Fajr prayer, so only a small percentage pray it. What is the guidance for school principals and teachers? And should we order them to pray, even if they delay it?
The Shaykh:
How?
The questioner:
He says: In many schools, at all levels—primary, middle, and secondary—it has become apparent that they are abandoning the Fajr prayer, so only a small percentage pray it. What is the guidance for school principals and teachers? And should we order them to pray, even if they delay it?
The Shaykh:
How do they delay it? No Muslim, whether a school principal or anyone else, is fit to delay; every Muslim is obligated to pray with the Muslims at the time prescribed by Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and he must not be late for the prayer. The principal is a role model whom the students follow, and he bears the sins of the students on the Day of Resurrection because he led them to this invalid act. Thus, he has destroyed himself and those who follow him. He is a shepherd and responsible for his flock, the students. As long as they are in the school, they are his flock under his care; he must look after them, order them to pray, order them to worship, and order them to have good morals. He is a role model and he is responsible. And if he is lax in prayer...
...then he is not fit to be made a principal or a person in charge. First, he has betrayed his religion, so how can he not betray his job? It is obligatory that only people of righteousness, uprightness, and good example be chosen for schools and administrations—those who will improve them and not corrupt them. As for advising them, yes, this is obligatory upon you. If you know that someone is lazy about the Fajr prayer, it is obligatory upon you to advise him, warn him of Allah, admonish him, and remind him. This is obligatory upon you.
Honorable Shaykh, the questioner says: In many schools, at all levels—primary, middle, and secondary—it has become apparent that they are abandoning the Fajr prayer, so only a small percentage pray it. What is the guidance for school principals and teachers? And should we order them to pray, even if they delay it?
The Shaykh:
How?
The questioner:
He says: In many schools, at all levels—primary, middle, and secondary—it has become apparent that they are abandoning the Fajr prayer, so only a small percentage pray it. What is the guidance for school principals and teachers? And should we order them to pray, even if they delay it?
The Shaykh:
How do they delay it? No Muslim, whether a school principal or anyone else, is fit to delay; every Muslim is obligated to pray with the Muslims at the time prescribed by Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and he must not be late for the prayer. The principal is a role model whom the students follow, and he bears the sins of the students on the Day of Resurrection because he led them to this invalid act. Thus, he has destroyed himself and those who follow him. He is a shepherd and responsible for his flock, the students. As long as they are in the school, they are his flock under his care; he must look after them, order them to pray, order them to worship, and order them to have good morals. He is a role model and he is responsible. And if he is lax in prayer...
...then he is not fit to be made a principal or a person in charge. First, he has betrayed his religion, so how can he not betray his job? It is obligatory that only people of righteousness, uprightness, and good example be chosen for schools and administrations—those who will improve them and not corrupt them. As for advising them, yes, this is obligatory upon you. If you know that someone is lazy about the Fajr prayer, it is obligatory upon you to advise him, warn him of Allah, admonish him, and remind him. This is obligatory upon you.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 10 من 64\شرح عمدة الأحكام (شرح كامل مع أسئلة)\الصلاة\المواقيت\صالح الفوزان\الفقه\كبار العلماء — youtube.com (1:03:14)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.