His statement: (Then wherever you catch up with the prayer, pray it, for it is a mosque) — some of them used this as evidence for the recommended practice of congregational prayer.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : His statement: Sahih Muslim 520a Some of them used this hadith as evidence that congregational prayer is a recommended practice.
The Shaykh : How is that the case?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : This is not correct. If we were to say this, we would also have to say the same regarding Jabir’s hadith:Bulugh al-Maram 126 We would also say that it is not obligatory. This is a specification of the location, not a specification of what is required in the rest of the prayer.
The defect in this is that the scholar holds a belief first and then seeks evidence. You find him using as evidence something that has no evidentiary value, or distorting words from their proper places. For this reason, we repeat to ourselves and to you: first seek evidence, then make the ruling. As for making the ruling first and then seeking evidence, that is a defect, a calamity, and a tribulation.
The questioner : Al-Shafi'i, O Shaykh, or the Shafi'is?
The Shaykh : Say Al-Shafi'i.
whenever the time comes for prayer, pray there
أينما أدركتك الصلاة فصلِّThe Shaykh : How is that the case?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : This is not correct. If we were to say this, we would also have to say the same regarding Jabir’s hadith:
The earth has been made for me (and my followers) a place for praying and something with which to perform Tayammum (to purify oneself for prayer). Therefore, anyone (of my followers) can pray (anywhere) and at any time that the Salat (prayer) is due.
وجعلَت لي الأرض مسجداً وطَهوراً فأيما رجل أدركته الصلاة يصليThe defect in this is that the scholar holds a belief first and then seeks evidence. You find him using as evidence something that has no evidentiary value, or distorting words from their proper places. For this reason, we repeat to ourselves and to you: first seek evidence, then make the ruling. As for making the ruling first and then seeking evidence, that is a defect, a calamity, and a tribulation.
The questioner : Al-Shafi'i, O Shaykh, or the Shafi'is?
The Shaykh : Say Al-Shafi'i.