The Ruling on Abandoning the Congregational Prayer
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Question:
Shaykh Salih, as you have mentioned, the prayer has its importance, but some people distinguish between not praying with the congregation and praying, but praying at home.
Answer:
If he abandons the congregational prayer, his prayer is valid if he performs it within its time, but he has abandoned a great obligation, which is the congregational prayer. He deserves severe warning and is characterized by the traits of the hypocrites, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 797Sahih (Darussalam). And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that the houses of those who lag behind in the congregational prayer should be burned with fire.
This indicates that he is abandoning a great obligation and falling into a great sin. He must repent to Allah and fear Allah. Because if a person abandons the congregational prayer, this is a step toward abandoning it entirely, because if he abandons praying with the congregation, he gradually progresses to praying it outside its time, then gradually progresses to abandoning it entirely, because these are the steps of Satan with the Muslim, and Allah the Exalted says:[An-Nur 24:21] [An-Nur 24:21].
It is obligatory for the Muslim to fear Allah, to seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan, and to maintain the prayers with the congregation, because it is the pillar of Islam, because it is the head of his wealth, because the prayer forbids immorality and wrongdoing, and because the prayer is the distinguishing factor between the Muslim and the disbeliever. Yes. May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
Shaykh Salih, as you have mentioned, the prayer has its importance, but some people distinguish between not praying with the congregation and praying, but praying at home.
Answer:
If he abandons the congregational prayer, his prayer is valid if he performs it within its time, but he has abandoned a great obligation, which is the congregational prayer. He deserves severe warning and is characterized by the traits of the hypocrites, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
for the hypocrites are the 'Isha' prayer and the Fajr prayer. If only they knew what (reward) there is in them, they would come to them even if they had to crawl.
المنافقين صلاة العشاء وصلاة الفجر ولو يعلمون ما فيهما لاتوهما ولو حبواThis indicates that he is abandoning a great obligation and falling into a great sin. He must repent to Allah and fear Allah. Because if a person abandons the congregational prayer, this is a step toward abandoning it entirely, because if he abandons praying with the congregation, he gradually progresses to praying it outside its time, then gradually progresses to abandoning it entirely, because these are the steps of Satan with the Muslim, and Allah the Exalted says:
O you who have believed, do not follow the footsteps
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِAnd whoever follows the footsteps of Satan - indeed, he enjoins immorality and wrongdoing
وَمَن يَتَّبِعْ خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِIt is obligatory for the Muslim to fear Allah, to seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan, and to maintain the prayers with the congregation, because it is the pillar of Islam, because it is the head of his wealth, because the prayer forbids immorality and wrongdoing, and because the prayer is the distinguishing factor between the Muslim and the disbeliever. Yes. May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، حكم ترك الصلاة في جماعة – الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.