A weak, blind elderly father, an elderly mother, sisters, and a wife tell me that I lead them in the Maghrib and 'Isha' prayers in Ramadan, followed by the tarawih prayer, in the courtyard of our home that gathers us, because I know they will not perform them if I leave them and go to the mosque where the tarawih prayer is held.
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The questioner : A weak, blind elderly father, an elderly mother, sisters, and a wife tell me that I lead them in the Maghrib and 'Isha' prayers in Ramadan, followed by the tarawih prayer, in the courtyard of our home that gathers us, because I know they will not perform them if I leave them and go to the mosque where the tarawih prayer is held. Is it better for me to save myself and pray with the congregation in the mosque, or should I lead my family members who are unable to reach the mosque, especially during the night hours?
The Shaykh : We say that as for the obligatory prayer, which is the 'Isha' prayer, it is obligatory for you to pray it in the mosque, and it is not permissible for you to leave the congregation for the sake of accommodating the people of the house. As for the tarawih prayer, if these people can wait until you pray tarawih in the mosque and then return, that is more preferable. If they cannot, then if they can pray it themselves, your praying in the mosque while they pray it for themselves is also more preferable. If neither of these is possible, then there is no harm, and indeed it is more preferable, for you to go to your family and pray the tarawih prayer with them, because of the assistance this provides in righteousness and piety. If Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, knows from your intention, or if it is your intention that were it not for this excuse you would have prayed with the Muslims in the mosque, then we hope that Allah will record for you the reward of one who prayed in the mosque.
The Shaykh : We say that as for the obligatory prayer, which is the 'Isha' prayer, it is obligatory for you to pray it in the mosque, and it is not permissible for you to leave the congregation for the sake of accommodating the people of the house. As for the tarawih prayer, if these people can wait until you pray tarawih in the mosque and then return, that is more preferable. If they cannot, then if they can pray it themselves, your praying in the mosque while they pray it for themselves is also more preferable. If neither of these is possible, then there is no harm, and indeed it is more preferable, for you to go to your family and pray the tarawih prayer with them, because of the assistance this provides in righteousness and piety. If Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, knows from your intention, or if it is your intention that were it not for this excuse you would have prayed with the Muslims in the mosque, then we hope that Allah will record for you the reward of one who prayed in the mosque.