The Position of Mosque Imams Regarding Those Who Do Not Attend the Congregational Prayer
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Question:
Regarding the imams of mosques who see some of the neighbors of the mosques not attending the prayer with the congregation, and who do not advise them, nor remove the food from them, what is your advice for these people?
Answer:
There is no doubt that this is a serious matter, and that it is obligatory to advise them and to stop serving them food. The imam should go with a group, or some of the group; it is better that one person does not go alone. A group of two, three, or four should go to the person and say: What is the matter with you? You are in the mosque, you are a neighbor of the mosque, and you are one of the congregation of the mosque. We hope that you have no ailment and that you are not sick, for it is obligatory for you to attend the congregation. Whoever hears the call to prayer and does not come, he has no prayer. So performing the congregation requires attendance. Indeed, Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I have seen us, and none would lag behind it except a known hypocrite who hears the call. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)Bulugh al-Maram 2:308 Bulugh al-Maram 2:307 So is it a dispensation for me to pray in my house? Do you hear me saying that regarding the prayer?
He said: So respond to him. They should advise him and guide him, perhaps he will feel shy, perhaps he will remember. Do not overlook it, but it should not be just one person; one person might be lenient with him, might not give him any consideration, or might not allow him to speak. However, if a group goes to his office or visits him at home, advises him, and talks to him, then this is one of the causes of good, if Allah wills, and it falls under the category of cooperating in righteousness and piety. If they visit him and he does not act, they should visit him a second and third time,[Al-Hajj 22:78], and they should report it, even if they think the committee is sufficient. They should notify the center around them so that it may perform its duty in compelling him to uphold this right and disciplining him to relinquish it.
Regarding the imams of mosques who see some of the neighbors of the mosques not attending the prayer with the congregation, and who do not advise them, nor remove the food from them, what is your advice for these people?
Answer:
There is no doubt that this is a serious matter, and that it is obligatory to advise them and to stop serving them food. The imam should go with a group, or some of the group; it is better that one person does not go alone. A group of two, three, or four should go to the person and say: What is the matter with you? You are in the mosque, you are a neighbor of the mosque, and you are one of the congregation of the mosque. We hope that you have no ailment and that you are not sick, for it is obligatory for you to attend the congregation. Whoever hears the call to prayer and does not come, he has no prayer. So performing the congregation requires attendance. Indeed, Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I have seen us, and none would lag behind it except a known hypocrite who hears the call. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
(ﷺ) said: "Whoever hears the call for prayer and and does not come (to the mosque for prayer), his prayer will not be accepted from him, unless he has a (legitimate) excuse."
عليه السلام قال من سمع النداء فلم يأت فلا صلاة له إلا من حذر،A blind man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, "O Messenger of Allah, I have no guide to take me to the mosque."
وجاءه صلى الله عليه وسلم أعمى، فقال يا رسول الله، ليس لي قائد لائم إلى المسجد،He said: So respond to him. They should advise him and guide him, perhaps he will feel shy, perhaps he will remember. Do not overlook it, but it should not be just one person; one person might be lenient with him, might not give him any consideration, or might not allow him to speak. However, if a group goes to his office or visits him at home, advises him, and talks to him, then this is one of the causes of good, if Allah wills, and it falls under the category of cooperating in righteousness and piety. If they visit him and he does not act, they should visit him a second and third time,
And strive for Allah with the striving due to Him
وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ ابن باز Alsheikh Binbaz»، موقف أئمة المساجد ممن لا يشهدون صلاة الجماعة 0 - بن باز - مشروع كبار العلماء — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.