Leaving the congregational prayer to monitor those who are late for prayer
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Question:
He says: Salim, I am involved in religious matters, and the state is in a place of documents regarding notes on those who are late for divorce. He says: I am responsible for the affairs of everyone, and sometimes I sit in a place of assembly to observe those who are late and urge them to pray. Sometimes I miss the congregational prayer and pray at my own time. Do I want to pray in this situation? And what do I do about it?
Answer:
If this is done on a full-time basis, it is not permissible for you to leave the prayer to follow up with these people. But if you know that they do not pray, take another measure. Take another measure with them by reporting them to the authorities and their superiors. As for repeatedly monitoring them when it is known that they have a desire to pray, this causes you to lose that prayer, and there is no hope that they will heed the advice. These people must be reported to those responsible for them so that the necessary measures are taken with them until they commit to prayer. However, if this happens only sometimes, meaning you went once to monitor a place or to verify a place and its people, and you missed the prayer, do not do that. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 2420 Sunan an-Nasa'i 848Sahih (Darussalam), and I would send men with a stone from danger, Bulugh al-Maram 2:305 their cups with fire. If this happens only sometimes and in a matter that ends and does not repeat, do not neglect it, even if it is a recurring issue that does not repeat.
He says: Salim, I am involved in religious matters, and the state is in a place of documents regarding notes on those who are late for divorce. He says: I am responsible for the affairs of everyone, and sometimes I sit in a place of assembly to observe those who are late and urge them to pray. Sometimes I miss the congregational prayer and pray at my own time. Do I want to pray in this situation? And what do I do about it?
Answer:
If this is done on a full-time basis, it is not permissible for you to leave the prayer to follow up with these people. But if you know that they do not pray, take another measure. Take another measure with them by reporting them to the authorities and their superiors. As for repeatedly monitoring them when it is known that they have a desire to pray, this causes you to lose that prayer, and there is no hope that they will heed the advice. These people must be reported to those responsible for them so that the necessary measures are taken with them until they commit to prayer. However, if this happens only sometimes, meaning you went once to monitor a place or to verify a place and its people, and you missed the prayer, do not do that. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
No doubt, I intended to order somebody to pronounce the Iqama of the (compulsory congregational) prayer
لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَتُقَامَand ordered a man to lead the people in prayer, then I would have gone from behind to those men
ثُمَّ آمُرَ رَجُلاً فَيَؤُمَّ النَّاسَ ثُمَّ أُخَالِفَ إِلَى رِجَالٍthen going off to some people (men) who are not present at the prayer and burning down their houses
ثم أخالف إلى رجال لا يشهدون الصلاة، فأحرق عليهم
Source
شرح ثلاثة الأصول وأدلتها، أدلة شهادة أن محمدا رسول الله - الإيمان يزيد وينقص — islamhouse.com (1:16:27)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.