Is there any obligation on a person if he neglects the congregational prayer out of laziness without an excuse?
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The questioner : He says:The questioner : Is there any obligation on a person if he neglects the congregational prayer out of laziness without an excuse?
The Shaykh : If a person neglects the congregational prayer out of laziness without an excuse and then prays alone, the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) holds that his prayer is invalid, because he considers the congregation a condition for the validity of the prayer. The Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) is a figure whose standing in knowledge, trustworthiness, religion, and understanding is known to everyone. Therefore, his statement is strong. However, it is weak in one respect. That is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 650a. This indicates that the prayer of the one who prays alone is valid; otherwise, it would not have any virtue. So the Shaykh al-Islam’s view on this matter is weak. The correct view is that the congregational prayer is obligatory, but it is not a condition for the validity of the prayer. And whoever does not pray with the congregation is sinful, disobedient to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and resembles the hypocrites for whom the prayers are a burden, to the extent that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 797Sahih (Darussalam).
And with this, this blessed meeting comes to an end. We ask Allah the Exalted to help us and you to do good in a night like this in the coming month, if Allah wills.
The questioner : May Allah reward the honorable Shaykh with the best reward, increase his reward, and do him good, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.
The Shaykh : If a person neglects the congregational prayer out of laziness without an excuse and then prays alone, the Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) holds that his prayer is invalid, because he considers the congregation a condition for the validity of the prayer. The Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) is a figure whose standing in knowledge, trustworthiness, religion, and understanding is known to everyone. Therefore, his statement is strong. However, it is weak in one respect. That is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Prayer said in a congregation is twenty-seven degrees more excellent than prayer said by a single person.
صلاة الجماعة أفضل من صلاة الفذ بسبع وعشرين درجةThe most burdensome prayers 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.
أثقل الصلوات على المنافقين صلاة العشاء وصلاة الفجر. ولو يعلمون ما فيهما لأتوهما ولو حبواًAnd with this, this blessed meeting comes to an end. We ask Allah the Exalted to help us and you to do good in a night like this in the coming month, if Allah wills.
The questioner : May Allah reward the honorable Shaykh with the best reward, increase his reward, and do him good, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.