What is the ruling on a man praying while he desires to eat when the iqamah is called, and which of the two is better: leaving the prayer with the congregation to eat, or leaving the food?

The questioner : He also asks: If food is present and he desires it, and he prays while leaving the food to join the congregation, is his prayer valid? And which of the two is better: leaving the prayer with the congregation to eat first, or praying with the congregation and delaying the food until after the prayer?

The Shaykh : If he prays in the presence of food he desires, there is no doubt that his heart will be attached to that food. As long as the food is present in a state where it is permissible to eat it and his soul desires it, he should not pray until he has eaten it, even if he misses the congregation. It is better for him to remain and eat this food until he satisfies his appetite without going to the congregation while his heart is attached to it, than for him to go to the congregation while his heart is attached to it. Accordingly, a person is excused for leaving the congregation if he remains to eat the present food that he desires, based on the hadith we referred to earlier: . And Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) would hear the iqamah while he was having his evening meal, and he would not stand up until he had satisfied his appetite.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.