The Friday Prayer and Congregational Prayer
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Delaying the 'Isha' Prayer
Question: I heard that the reward for the 'Isha' prayer increases the later it is performed, so I adopted this practice. As a result, I no longer go to the mosque; instead, I pray it alone at a late time to obtain this reward. Is my action correct?
Answer: What you did is the very essence of error; because you abandoned an obligatory duty in order to attain a recommended practice. Delaying the 'Isha' prayer until the first third of the night is a recommended practice (sunnah), and congregational prayer is obligatory. You abandoned congregational prayer, so you must repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and adhere to congregational prayer. If they pray it at the beginning of its time, pray with them. If they delay the 'Isha' prayer to the best time, delay it with them. This is the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). When he saw his Companions gathering, he would hasten, and when he saw them delaying, he would delay. He preferred that, or considered it more meritorious to pray it later, but out of consideration for the circumstances of his Companions and kindness to them, he would lead them in the 'Isha' prayer at the beginning of its time.
[The Friday Prayer and Congregational Prayer]
Question: I work on a farm, and when the time for the Friday prayer arrives and I prepare to pray, the owner of the farm prevents me from going. I leave it based on his wish, but I regret and grieve over abandoning it. However, I have no choice but to obey him. Does he have the right to do this? And is there a sin on me for abandoning the Friday prayers constantly? And is there not a sin on him for preventing me from praying it?
Answer: It is obligatory for the Muslim to preserve the five daily prayers and the Friday prayer, and to perform them in congregation in the mosques. Seeking worldly matters and livelihood must not divert him from this.Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Jumu'ah: 9] .
And Allah the Exalted said: [An-Nur: 36, 37] .
Therefore, it is obligatory for the Muslim to perform the prayers in congregation in the mosques, and likewise the Friday prayers. Attending and performing them is emphasized for the Muslim. It is not permissible for a person to prevent the workers who work for him from performing the prayer; it is forbidden for him to do so. It is not permissible for the workers to obey him in this; because there is no obedience to a created being in disobedience to the Creator. Performing the prayer in the mosque is excluded from the period of employment by Shari'ah. The employer has no right to claim it. The right belongs to the Muslim to go to the prayer and pray, whether his employer is pleased or not; because this is the right of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). So it is obligatory for you to
perform the prayer, and do not pay attention to this one who prevents you from attending the Friday prayer,And if he refuses except to prevent, then you have two options:
either by bringing his matter to the authority in your area to take action against him.
Or by going to another Muslim who enables you to perform the prayer in the mosque. And Allah the Exalted knows best.
Question: But it is also obligatory for them not to exploit this to waste the time for which they were hired; because the reason preventing them might be that they do not waste his time under the pretext of prayer?
Answer: It is measured by the extent of the prayer. It should not be broader than the prayer. To the extent that they perform the prayer in congregation, they are permitted to do so. As for what exceeds that, it is the right of the employer. He has the right to prevent them from the excess that they have no need for in performing the prayer.
Question: I heard that the reward for the 'Isha' prayer increases the later it is performed, so I adopted this practice. As a result, I no longer go to the mosque; instead, I pray it alone at a late time to obtain this reward. Is my action correct?
Answer: What you did is the very essence of error; because you abandoned an obligatory duty in order to attain a recommended practice. Delaying the 'Isha' prayer until the first third of the night is a recommended practice (sunnah), and congregational prayer is obligatory. You abandoned congregational prayer, so you must repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and adhere to congregational prayer. If they pray it at the beginning of its time, pray with them. If they delay the 'Isha' prayer to the best time, delay it with them. This is the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). When he saw his Companions gathering, he would hasten, and when he saw them delaying, he would delay. He preferred that, or considered it more meritorious to pray it later, but out of consideration for the circumstances of his Companions and kindness to them, he would lead them in the 'Isha' prayer at the beginning of its time.
[The Friday Prayer and Congregational Prayer]
Question: I work on a farm, and when the time for the Friday prayer arrives and I prepare to pray, the owner of the farm prevents me from going. I leave it based on his wish, but I regret and grieve over abandoning it. However, I have no choice but to obey him. Does he have the right to do this? And is there a sin on me for abandoning the Friday prayers constantly? And is there not a sin on him for preventing me from praying it?
Answer: It is obligatory for the Muslim to preserve the five daily prayers and the Friday prayer, and to perform them in congregation in the mosques. Seeking worldly matters and livelihood must not divert him from this.Allah the Exalted said:
O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَAnd Allah the Exalted said:
(36) [Such niches are] in mosques which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings (37) [Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving of zakah. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about -
فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ رِجَالٌ لَا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ يَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالْأَبْصَارُTherefore, it is obligatory for the Muslim to perform the prayers in congregation in the mosques, and likewise the Friday prayers. Attending and performing them is emphasized for the Muslim. It is not permissible for a person to prevent the workers who work for him from performing the prayer; it is forbidden for him to do so. It is not permissible for the workers to obey him in this; because there is no obedience to a created being in disobedience to the Creator. Performing the prayer in the mosque is excluded from the period of employment by Shari'ah. The employer has no right to claim it. The right belongs to the Muslim to go to the prayer and pray, whether his employer is pleased or not; because this is the right of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). So it is obligatory for you to
perform the prayer, and do not pay attention to this one who prevents you from attending the Friday prayer,And if he refuses except to prevent, then you have two options:
either by bringing his matter to the authority in your area to take action against him.
Or by going to another Muslim who enables you to perform the prayer in the mosque. And Allah the Exalted knows best.
Question: But it is also obligatory for them not to exploit this to waste the time for which they were hired; because the reason preventing them might be that they do not waste his time under the pretext of prayer?
Answer: It is measured by the extent of the prayer. It should not be broader than the prayer. To the extent that they perform the prayer in congregation, they are permitted to do so. As for what exceeds that, it is the right of the employer. He has the right to prevent them from the excess that they have no need for in performing the prayer.