The Ruling on Congregational Prayer
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa No. ( 141 )
Q: Whatis the ruling on one who abandons the prayer? And what is the ruling on performing it in congregation?
A: Prayer is one of the five pillars after the two testimonies. Whoever abandons it while denying its obligation is a disbeliever by the consensus of the Muslims. And whoever abandons it out of negligence and laziness, the correct opinion among the scholars is that he is a disbeliever. The basis for this is what Muslim narrated in his Sahih from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sahih Muslim 82b, and what the Imam Ahmad narrated in (al-Musnad) and al-Tirmidhi in (al-Jami') from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam). As for performing it in congregation, it is an individual obligation. The basis for this is the Book and the Sunnah; among the evidence is the saying of Allah the Exalted: [An-Nisa 4:102] the verse. So Allah
(Glorified and Exalted is He) commanded His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to establish prayer in congregation in a state of fear, which indicates that it is even more necessary in other states. And as for the Sunnah: what is established in Sahih Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said:Riyad as-Salihin 1066 And in a narration of Ahmad : Sunan Abi Dawud 552Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani). The point of indication is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not grant a dispensation to this blind man. So if this blind man did not find a dispensation from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then the sighted person is even more entitled to not have a dispensation. This is supported by what is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding his intention to burn down with fire the houses of those who lagged behind in congregational prayer in the mosque, since it is not permissible to threaten those who lag behind in a recommended practice or a collective obligation. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q: Whatis the ruling on one who abandons the prayer? And what is the ruling on performing it in congregation?
A: Prayer is one of the five pillars after the two testimonies. Whoever abandons it while denying its obligation is a disbeliever by the consensus of the Muslims. And whoever abandons it out of negligence and laziness, the correct opinion among the scholars is that he is a disbeliever. The basis for this is what Muslim narrated in his Sahih from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Between man and polytheism and unbelief is the abandonment of salat.
بين العبد وبين الشرك والكفر ترك الصلاةThe covenant that distinguishes between us and them is prayer; so whoever leaves it, he has committed Kufr.
العهد الذي بيننا وبينهم الصلاة فمن تركها فقد كفرAnd when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms.
وَإِذَا كُنْتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلاَةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ(Glorified and Exalted is He) commanded His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to establish prayer in congregation in a state of fear, which indicates that it is even more necessary in other states. And as for the Sunnah: what is established in Sahih Muslim from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said:
A blind man came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! I have no one to guide me to the mosque." He, therefore, sought his permission to perform Salat (prayer) in his house. He (ﷺ) granted him permission. When the man turned away, he called him back, and said, "Do you hear the Adhan (call to prayer)?" He replied in the affirmative. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then directed him to respond to it.
أتى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم رجل أعمى فقال: يا رسول الله: ليس لي قائد يقودني إلى المسجد، فسأل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يرخص له، فرخص له فلما ولى دعاه فقال: هل تسمع النداء؟ قال: نعم، قال: فأجبI do not find any permission for you.
لا أجد لك رخصة
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.