The ruling on missing the congregational prayer, and the limits of a parent’s disapproval of children who miss the congregational prayer
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
The listener, Zahra from al-Bada’i, says: I have sons and daughters who are adults, but may Allah guide them, they are negligent in performing the prayers, especially the sons. They do not perform the prayer in the mosque except rarely. I have advised them many times and have toiled with them, so what is obligatory for me to do toward them, and what are the limits of my disapproval of them with my tongue and my heart? Guide us, may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
A man’s prayer with the congregation is obligatory; it is a fard upon him, and it is not permissible for a Muslim to leave the congregational prayer if he is able to do so. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)Sahih Ibn Hibban 10:352 and the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) Sunan Ibn Majah 791Sahih (Darussalam) This indicates that the congregational prayer is obligatory upon every able Muslim. So whoever leaves the congregational prayer, it is obligatory to advise him, and it is obligatory to discipline him if one has authority over him, disciplining him until he prays. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) intended to burn down the houses of those who lag behind. This is a punishment, indeed it is among the harshest and most severe punishments. This indicates that the one who lags behind the congregational prayer without an excuse deserves discipline. So if one has authority over him, whether from the one in authority, or from his father, or his guardian, he should punish him until he prays with the congregation. And if he is not able to punish him, he should advise him and persist in advising him until his conscience is clear, and perhaps he will be guided and accept. Yes.
The questioner:
She asks: What are the limits of my disapproval of them with my tongue and my heart?
The Shaykh:
Disapprove of them without limits. Disapprove of them and warn them of Allah the Exalted and Majestic. And if you hear from them some of the words of the scholars on tapes, or otherwise, or in books, that is good, as it helps you in advising them. Yes.
The questioner:
Her intention may be obligatory from the disapproval of the heart.
The Shaykh:
Our obligation is to disapprove with the hand, the heart, and the tongue, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saidSahih Muslim 49a This is for the one who has authority, from the one in authority or the father. The father has authority over his son. And whoever cannot do so with the hand, does so with his tongue through advice and admonition. And whoever cannot do so with his tongue, he disapproves with his heart. It is necessary to disapprove of evil with the heart. So whoever does not disapprove of evil with his heart is not a believer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said Sahih Muslim 50a and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said Yes.
The questioner:
Shaykh, some people do not know about this issue. When they see something of sins, they think it is sufficient for them to say, "It is not my concern." Does this contradict the disapproval of the heart that Allah’s disobedience is a sin?
The Shaykh:
Without a doubt, the Muslim has a concern. It is not that he has no concern, and he is commanded to disapprove. "Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it." This is a command that indicates obligation. But people differ in their ability, so one disapproves according to his ability. So whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand, if he is able. So whoever is not able, he does so with his tongue. And whoever is not able with his tongue, he does so with his heart. This is the least of the conditions. As for saying, "It is not my concern, and everyone is responsible for his own actions, and everyone is responsible for his own sin," this is a false statement, and it is from the whispers of Satan.
The questioner:
The disapproval of the heart is not realized in him.
The Shaykh:
If this is not realized in him, it is a sign of the weakness of his faith and of his lack of faith.
The listener, Zahra from al-Bada’i, says: I have sons and daughters who are adults, but may Allah guide them, they are negligent in performing the prayers, especially the sons. They do not perform the prayer in the mosque except rarely. I have advised them many times and have toiled with them, so what is obligatory for me to do toward them, and what are the limits of my disapproval of them with my tongue and my heart? Guide us, may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
A man’s prayer with the congregation is obligatory; it is a fard upon him, and it is not permissible for a Muslim to leave the congregational prayer if he is able to do so. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
Whoever hears the call to prayer and does not respond, he has no prayer, except one who has an excuse,
من سمع النداء فلم يجب فلا صلاة له إلا من عذر،I was thinking of commanding that the call to prayer be given, then I would tell a man to lead the people in prayer, then I would go out with some other men carrying bundles of wood, and go to people who do not attend the prayer, and burn their houses down around them.
لقد هممت أن آمر بالصلاة فتقام، ثم آمر رجالا معهم حزم من حطب، ثم أخالف إلى رجال لا يشهدون الصلاة، فأحرق عليهم بيوتهم بالنار،The questioner:
She asks: What are the limits of my disapproval of them with my tongue and my heart?
The Shaykh:
Disapprove of them without limits. Disapprove of them and warn them of Allah the Exalted and Majestic. And if you hear from them some of the words of the scholars on tapes, or otherwise, or in books, that is good, as it helps you in advising them. Yes.
The questioner:
Her intention may be obligatory from the disapproval of the heart.
The Shaykh:
Our obligation is to disapprove with the hand, the heart, and the tongue, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said
He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand
من رأى منكم منكرا فليغيره بيدهand beyond that there is no faith even to the extent of a mustard seed
وليس وراء ذلك من الإيمان حبة خردل،and that is the weakest of faith.
وذلك أضعف الإيمان.The questioner:
Shaykh, some people do not know about this issue. When they see something of sins, they think it is sufficient for them to say, "It is not my concern." Does this contradict the disapproval of the heart that Allah’s disobedience is a sin?
The Shaykh:
Without a doubt, the Muslim has a concern. It is not that he has no concern, and he is commanded to disapprove. "Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it." This is a command that indicates obligation. But people differ in their ability, so one disapproves according to his ability. So whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand, if he is able. So whoever is not able, he does so with his tongue. And whoever is not able with his tongue, he does so with his heart. This is the least of the conditions. As for saying, "It is not my concern, and everyone is responsible for his own actions, and everyone is responsible for his own sin," this is a false statement, and it is from the whispers of Satan.
The questioner:
The disapproval of the heart is not realized in him.
The Shaykh:
If this is not realized in him, it is a sign of the weakness of his faith and of his lack of faith.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 5167- حكم التخلف عن صلاة الجماعة، وحدود إنكار الوالدين على الأبناء إن تخلفوا عن صلاة الجماعة — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.