What is the advice for one who attends the Fajr prayer in congregation while leaving his sons sleeping?
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Question:
The questioner says: I hope you will advise that group of Muslims who go to the mosques to perform the Fajr prayer, leaving their young sons behind them sleeping, and they do not wake them up until after they return from the mosque, which is after the completion of the congregational prayer.
Answer:
This is considered a shortcoming on their part. If these children are pre-pubescent, it is not obligatory for them to wake them up for the congregational prayer in the mosque; rather, it is recommended for them to do so. As for obligation, it is not required because the prayer is not obligatory for them; it is only recommended, and it is a voluntary prayer in their case. However, if they are adults, it is obligatory for the father to wake them up and to compel them to perform the congregational prayer, based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)Sunan ad-Daraqutni 3:5 Yes. May Allah reward you with good.
The questioner says: I hope you will advise that group of Muslims who go to the mosques to perform the Fajr prayer, leaving their young sons behind them sleeping, and they do not wake them up until after they return from the mosque, which is after the completion of the congregational prayer.
Answer:
This is considered a shortcoming on their part. If these children are pre-pubescent, it is not obligatory for them to wake them up for the congregational prayer in the mosque; rather, it is recommended for them to do so. As for obligation, it is not required because the prayer is not obligatory for them; it is only recommended, and it is a voluntary prayer in their case. However, if they are adults, it is obligatory for the father to wake them up and to compel them to perform the congregational prayer, based on the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)
Order your children to pray at the age of seven, beat them for it at the age of ten, and separate them in their beds.
مروا أولادكم بالصلاة لسبع واضربوهم عليها لعشر وفرقوا بينهم في المضاجع.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما النصيحة لمن يحضر صلاة الفجر جماعة تاركا أبناءه نائمين- الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.