Is it permissible for the men of the Commission for Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice to delay the prayer for the sake of public benefit?
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The questioner : I am one of the men of the Commission for Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice. When we want to order people to pray, they say to us, "Why don't you pray first?" So when we pray at the time of the iqamah, these people delay their prayer. Is it permissible for us to delay the prayer for the sake of public benefit?
The Shaykh : Yes, the men of the Commission have authority and power to order people to do what is right and forbid them from doing what is wrong. If they order people to pray and the one who is ordered says, "Why don't you pray?" then he is only ordering him to pray to defend himself, not for the sake of Allah. The one who was told, "Pray," said, "Why don't you pray?" What is his purpose in this? Is his purpose to order you to do what is right, or is his purpose to defend himself? His purpose is to defend himself. But we tell the Commission to delay the prayer in order to order people to pray. The evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 791Sahih (Darussalam) And if he sets out with these people and has appointed someone to lead the people in prayer, that necessitates leaving the congregation. So the one who orders what is right and forbids what is wrong, or the Commission, may delay the congregational prayer in order to establish the people for prayer. The men of the Commission can pray in congregation, even after the people have finished their congregational prayer.
Yes, seven and a half.
Okay, I think the sun has risen now?
The student : No, it has not risen.
The Shaykh : Okay, and until after the Maghrib prayer, if Allah wills, we entrust you to Allah, and peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The Shaykh : Yes, the men of the Commission have authority and power to order people to do what is right and forbid them from doing what is wrong. If they order people to pray and the one who is ordered says, "Why don't you pray?" then he is only ordering him to pray to defend himself, not for the sake of Allah. The one who was told, "Pray," said, "Why don't you pray?" What is his purpose in this? Is his purpose to order you to do what is right, or is his purpose to defend himself? His purpose is to defend himself. But we tell the Commission to delay the prayer in order to order people to pray. The evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
I was thinking of commanding that the call to prayer be given, then I would tell a man to lead the people in prayer, then I would go out with some other men carrying bundles of wood, and go to people who do not attend the prayer, and burn their houses down around them.
لقد هممت أن آمر بالصلاة فتقام ثم آمر رجلا فيصلي بالناس ثم أنطلق برجال معهم حزم من حطب إلى قوم لا يشهدون الصلاة فأحرّق عليهم بيوتهم بالنارYes, seven and a half.
Okay, I think the sun has risen now?
The student : No, it has not risen.
The Shaykh : Okay, and until after the Maghrib prayer, if Allah wills, we entrust you to Allah, and peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.