The Obligations of Mosque Imams Regarding Advising Those Who Miss the Congregation
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Question:
He says: Many of the people living near the mosques do not attend the prayer with the congregation, and some of the imams of the Muslims in the mosques do not advise the congregation. Is the conscience absolved by remaining silent about them? We ask you to instruct the imams of the mosques to check on them and advise them.
Answer:
There is no doubt that it is obligatory for the imams of the mosques and the caretakers of the mosques—not the imams alone, but the imam and the caretaker of the mosque—to advise those around them who are with their congregation and who miss the prayer. They should guide them to good, check on them, and be concerned for them, in the context of cooperating in righteousness and piety, and in the context of advising one another to truth and being patient with it. They must visit them; two or three should gather, and the Muslims should gather with those they see missing the prayer to ask them about the reasons for that. Is he ill? Why?
They should advise him and direct him to the right path. If he is stubborn, they can refer his case to the committee or the authority so that they establish him upon the truth and encourage him to join the congregation. This is part of dealing with people. One should not display what he fears, and it is not permissible to remain silent or be lenient with these matters, because this leads to an increase in those who miss the prayer. It was reported regarding the dismantling of the house [of idols], that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw weakness or a decrease among the people on some of his days, so he said: "Where is so-and-so? Where is so-and-so? Where is so-and-so?" And he said (peace and blessings be upon him): "I have intended [to do so]." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) intended, then he ordered that the people be changed, and then he set out with his men. Yes, a stone from those present, to the men who witnessed that al-Safa and al-Marwah should be closed off and their houses locked upon them. This indicates that it is necessary to care for and check on people, and to persist in directing them to good, guiding them to the truth, and forbidding what occurs from them. Yes.
He says: Many of the people living near the mosques do not attend the prayer with the congregation, and some of the imams of the Muslims in the mosques do not advise the congregation. Is the conscience absolved by remaining silent about them? We ask you to instruct the imams of the mosques to check on them and advise them.
Answer:
There is no doubt that it is obligatory for the imams of the mosques and the caretakers of the mosques—not the imams alone, but the imam and the caretaker of the mosque—to advise those around them who are with their congregation and who miss the prayer. They should guide them to good, check on them, and be concerned for them, in the context of cooperating in righteousness and piety, and in the context of advising one another to truth and being patient with it. They must visit them; two or three should gather, and the Muslims should gather with those they see missing the prayer to ask them about the reasons for that. Is he ill? Why?
They should advise him and direct him to the right path. If he is stubborn, they can refer his case to the committee or the authority so that they establish him upon the truth and encourage him to join the congregation. This is part of dealing with people. One should not display what he fears, and it is not permissible to remain silent or be lenient with these matters, because this leads to an increase in those who miss the prayer. It was reported regarding the dismantling of the house [of idols], that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saw weakness or a decrease among the people on some of his days, so he said: "Where is so-and-so? Where is so-and-so? Where is so-and-so?" And he said (peace and blessings be upon him): "I have intended [to do so]." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) intended, then he ordered that the people be changed, and then he set out with his men. Yes, a stone from those present, to the men who witnessed that al-Safa and al-Marwah should be closed off and their houses locked upon them. This indicates that it is necessary to care for and check on people, and to persist in directing them to good, guiding them to the truth, and forbidding what occurs from them. Yes.
Source
ندوات الجامع الكبير مع الأسئلة - ٦٩ — archive.org (1:09:53)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.