The Correct Method for the Imam to Check on His Congregation in the Fajr Prayer

The questioner:
May Allah reward Your Eminence and multiply your reward. A questioner says: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has issued a circular to the imams of the mosques instructing them to check on their congregations in the Fajr prayer, based on a letter from Your Eminence. We ask Allah to record for you the reward of reviving this Sunnah. My question is: What is the correct method for this check? Is it to be done every day? Is it specific to the Fajr prayer? And should the imam prepare a written list to read after every prayer? Please inform us, may you be rewarded.

The Shaykh:
The imam benefits in this matter. The check in Fajr is done by speaking, and in the other prayers by observation and care. He cooperates with his good brothers, such as the mu'adhdhin and others. When they know who is absent, they advise him, direct him to good, and warn him against being absent due to obeying desires and Satan, and imitating the hypocrites. The check is done by saying, "I saw so-and-so," as in the hadith of prayer from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he and by observation and looking at the faces of the people if the congregation is small and known; by looking at their faces, one knows who has left. This is in all times, but mostly the absence occurs in Fajr; therefore, it is customary to check in Fajr because it is usually where absence and laziness occur. If absence is found in other than Fajr, they check then. The important thing is that the imam and his good, observant brothers, the mu'adhdhin and others, cooperate in this by directing people, checking on them, and encouraging them to maintain the pillar of Islam, and warning against imitating the enemies of Allah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the hadith as a rebuke. And he said to a man when he asked, "I have no leader to lead the mosque, is it permissible for me to pray in my house?" He said, "Do you hear me when I call to prayer?" He said, "Yes." He said, "Then answer." Ibn Mas'ud said . So the check is by saying, "I saw so-and-so, so-and-so," as was known in this country in the past. And it may encompass the use of the 'Isha' prayer when necessary, and the times of prayer are also observed; a person observes them, and observation is sufficient if he observes them, because people may go here and there in Maghrib, 'Asr, and Zuhr for other things, they may have invitations, or they may have other works. But Fajr gathers them in their houses; Fajr is the place where they are in their houses, and the place of absence and laziness is usually there. But more important than all this is that he cares for them by observing and looking at them, he and the special brothers, so that they guide him and he does not lag behind, and so that they advise him, direct him, and cooperate with him in righteousness and piety. The brothers are one thing; the believer goes out, so I accompany him after the exit. So it is obligatory for everyone to cooperate in this and in piety by the means by which the desired result is achieved. Yes.

The questioner:
Also, Shaykh, if he likes a complete list without names, or leaves those who are absent.

The Shaykh:
He looks at the easy way, meaning his reports are for everyone or for those he knows are absent. If the known people do not lag behind and he sees them, there is no need to check on them while they are in front of him.