Explaining the superiority of praying in the first part of its time, except for what is excluded
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The Shaykh : Is it better to pray early or to delay? It is better to pray early in all five prayers, except for 'Isha', in which it is better to delay, provided that it does not cause hardship. Based on this, if a group is on a journey or traveling and they ask, "Which is better, to delay the 'Isha prayer or to hasten it?" we say that it is better to delay it. Likewise, for women in their homes, it is better for them to delay the 'Isha prayer, unless it causes them hardship.
Now, if someone were to ask: "Is it better for me to pray with the congregation in the first part of the 'Isha prayer, or to delay it until the end of its time?" we say that you should pray with the congregation, because congregational prayer is obligatory, and delaying the 'Isha prayer until the end of its time is a recommended practice (sunnah). There is no conflict between the obligatory and the recommended practice, because the obligatory is more important, so it must be given priority.
Now, for prayers other than 'Isha, it is better to pray early. But if someone were to say: "If I pray early, I will pray alone, but if I delay, I will pray with the congregation, because there is a group that delays," should I pray early or delay? You should delay. Why? Because the congregation is obligatory, and praying early is a recommended practice (sunnah), and there is no conflict between the obligatory and the recommended practice.
May Allah bless you. Also excluded from this is the Zuhr prayer when the heat is intense, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 677Sahih (Darussalam) The scholars have differed on whether cooling off (ibrad) is a recommended practice (sunnah) or a dispensation (rukhsah). Some of them said that it is a recommended practice (sunnah), and on this view, cooling off is prescribed in all circumstances.
And some of them said that it is a dispensation (rukhsah), and on this view, if it is more comfortable for people not to cool off, then there is no cooling off. Do people today act on the basis that it is a dispensation or a recommended practice? Do people today act on the basis that it is a dispensation or a recommended practice?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : How is it not this or that? People today do not cool off for the Zuhr prayer; they pray the Zuhr prayer in the first part of its time, in summer and winter. This is based on the view that it is a dispensation, and that the purpose of cooling off is to be kind to people. People today say that being kind to us means that we should pray the Zuhr prayer early, because if we delayed it, the students would come from their schools and have lunch, and they would sleep through the Zuhr prayer. Likewise, the employees, if we cooled off, they would come from their jobs and have lunch, and they would sleep through the Zuhr prayer. So, should the Zuhr prayer be prayed early so that they can pray it, and then have lunch and sleep until 'Asr, for example?
Now, regarding the manner of prayer, we will speak about its conditions, if Allah wills, later.
Now, if someone were to ask: "Is it better for me to pray with the congregation in the first part of the 'Isha prayer, or to delay it until the end of its time?" we say that you should pray with the congregation, because congregational prayer is obligatory, and delaying the 'Isha prayer until the end of its time is a recommended practice (sunnah). There is no conflict between the obligatory and the recommended practice, because the obligatory is more important, so it must be given priority.
Now, for prayers other than 'Isha, it is better to pray early. But if someone were to say: "If I pray early, I will pray alone, but if I delay, I will pray with the congregation, because there is a group that delays," should I pray early or delay? You should delay. Why? Because the congregation is obligatory, and praying early is a recommended practice (sunnah), and there is no conflict between the obligatory and the recommended practice.
May Allah bless you. Also excluded from this is the Zuhr prayer when the heat is intense, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
When it is very hot, then wait for it to cool down before you pray, for intense heat is from the flaring up of the Hell-fire.
إذا اشتد الحر فأبردوا بالصلاة فإن شدة الحر من فيح جهنمAnd some of them said that it is a dispensation (rukhsah), and on this view, if it is more comfortable for people not to cool off, then there is no cooling off. Do people today act on the basis that it is a dispensation or a recommended practice? Do people today act on the basis that it is a dispensation or a recommended practice?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : How is it not this or that? People today do not cool off for the Zuhr prayer; they pray the Zuhr prayer in the first part of its time, in summer and winter. This is based on the view that it is a dispensation, and that the purpose of cooling off is to be kind to people. People today say that being kind to us means that we should pray the Zuhr prayer early, because if we delayed it, the students would come from their schools and have lunch, and they would sleep through the Zuhr prayer. Likewise, the employees, if we cooled off, they would come from their jobs and have lunch, and they would sleep through the Zuhr prayer. So, should the Zuhr prayer be prayed early so that they can pray it, and then have lunch and sleep until 'Asr, for example?
Now, regarding the manner of prayer, we will speak about its conditions, if Allah wills, later.