Is serving food before prayer specific to the 'Isha' prayer?
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Question:
Is starting with food specific to the 'Isha' prayer?
Answer:
If it is served, it applies to 'Isha' and to prayers other than 'Isha'. For this reason, in the hadith of A'ishah:Sahih Muslim 560a even if lunch is served at the time of the 'Asr call to prayer, or similar to that, or at the time of the Dhuhr call to prayer.
Q: O Shaykh, it is said that this was in the time of hunger and not in our time?
The Shaykh: No, the one who said this is wrong; he said it from his own pocket. However, it is not befitting to make this a habit or to make it an excuse for people. No, this is if it happens to coincide. As for him knowing and telling them, "When the call to prayer is made, serve it," that means he does not want to pray with the congregation. Rather, this is if it happens that 'Isha' is served for guests, and it is served to him and he has not requested it; let him start with it so that his heart does not become attached to it; so that he comes to the prayer humble, with his heart present and at peace. It should not be a habit, making it a habit at the time of prayer.
A question about delaying the serving of food and spreading out the travel mat?
The Shaykh: The point is that if it is served, they eat. But if it is not served, it is postponed until they pray.
Is starting with food specific to the 'Isha' prayer?
Answer:
If it is served, it applies to 'Isha' and to prayers other than 'Isha'. For this reason, in the hadith of A'ishah:
No prayer can be (rightly said) when the food is there (before the worshipper), or when he is prompted by the call of nature.
لا صلاة بحضرة الطعام، ولا وهو يدافعه الأخبثانQ: O Shaykh, it is said that this was in the time of hunger and not in our time?
The Shaykh: No, the one who said this is wrong; he said it from his own pocket. However, it is not befitting to make this a habit or to make it an excuse for people. No, this is if it happens to coincide. As for him knowing and telling them, "When the call to prayer is made, serve it," that means he does not want to pray with the congregation. Rather, this is if it happens that 'Isha' is served for guests, and it is served to him and he has not requested it; let him start with it so that his heart does not become attached to it; so that he comes to the prayer humble, with his heart present and at peace. It should not be a habit, making it a habit at the time of prayer.
A question about delaying the serving of food and spreading out the travel mat?
The Shaykh: The point is that if it is served, they eat. But if it is not served, it is postponed until they pray.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.