The Ruling on Congregational Prayer
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Your Eminence! The imam and khatib of the Friday prayer rarely prays Fajr with the congregation.We went to him and spoke with him and advised him, and he said: I do not accept your statement that it is not obligatory — he means the congregational prayer.Then he said: I am not convinced except by the statement of Ibn Uthaymeen?
Tell him: Ibn Uthaymeen sends his greetings to you.And he says to you: The congregational prayer is obligatory. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, made it obligatory even in a state of fear.Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Nisa: 102] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever hears the call to prayer and does not respond, there is no prayer for him except for one with an excuse." A blind man sought permission to pray in his house, and he granted it to him. But when the man turned to leave, he called him back.And he said: "Do you hear the call to prayer?He said: Yes.
He said: Then respond." And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The heaviest prayers for the hypocrites are the 'Isha' and Fajr prayers. If they knew what reward is in them, they would come to them even if they had to crawl."
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I was about to order the prayer to be established, then order a man to lead the people in prayer, then I would set out with men carrying bundles of firewood to a people who do not attend the prayer, and I would burn their houses down with fire."
And also tell him: Ibn Uthaymeen advises you to fear Allah, Mighty and Majestic, to be a good example, to maintain the prayers with the congregation as an obligation, and to maintain the regular voluntary prayers and all voluntary acts of worship; for that is what raises your status with Allah and with the people.
Tell him: Ibn Uthaymeen sends his greetings to you.And he says to you: The congregational prayer is obligatory. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, made it obligatory even in a state of fear.Allah the Exalted said:
And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you
وَإِذَا كُنْتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلاةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ مَعَكَHe said: Then respond." And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The heaviest prayers for the hypocrites are the 'Isha' and Fajr prayers. If they knew what reward is in them, they would come to them even if they had to crawl."
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I was about to order the prayer to be established, then order a man to lead the people in prayer, then I would set out with men carrying bundles of firewood to a people who do not attend the prayer, and I would burn their houses down with fire."
And also tell him: Ibn Uthaymeen advises you to fear Allah, Mighty and Majestic, to be a good example, to maintain the prayers with the congregation as an obligation, and to maintain the regular voluntary prayers and all voluntary acts of worship; for that is what raises your status with Allah and with the people.