Rebuking the one who abandons congregational prayer without an excuse
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Q: Some people—may Allah guide us and them—miss the congregational prayer without a valid religious excuse, and some of them make excuses based on their worldly affairs. When you offer them advice, they persist in their stubbornness; in fact, they constantly repeat that prayer is for Allah and that no one has any say in it. What is your ruling on this?
A: Mutual advice among Muslims and forbidding what is wrong are among the most important obligations, as Allah the Exalted said: [Surah al-Tawbah: 71].
And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 49a.
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It was asked: For whom, O Messenger of Allah? He said: Sahih Muslim 55a Muslim narrated both in his Sahih.
There is no doubt that abandoning prayer in congregation without an excuse is among the wrongs that must be rebuked. It is obligatory for men to perform the five daily prayers in the mosques, based on much evidence, including his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying:Sunan Ibn Majah 793Sahih (Darussalam) Ibn Majah, al-Daraqutni, and others narrated it, and al-Hakim graded it as authentic, and its chain is good. It is also established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that a blind man said to him: O Messenger of Allah, I have no guide to lead me to the mosque. Do I have a dispensation to pray in my house? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 653 He said: Yes. He said: Muslim narrated it in his Sahih.
There are many hadiths in this meaning. It is obligatory for a Muslim, when his brother rebukes him for a wrong, not to become angry and not to respond to him with anything but good. Rather, he should thank him and pray for his well-being, because he called him to obey Allah and reminded him of his right. It is not permissible for him to be arrogant toward the one who calls to the truth; for Allah the Exalted condemned those who do so and threatened them with the punishment of Hell: [Surah al-Baqarah: 206]. We ask Allah for guidance for all Muslims.
A: Mutual advice among Muslims and forbidding what is wrong are among the most important obligations, as Allah the Exalted said:
The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong
وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِAnd the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
He who amongst you sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue, and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) from his heart, and that is the least of faith.
من رأى منكم منكرًا فليغيره بيده، فإن لم يستطع فبلسانه، فإن لم يستطع فبقلبه وذلك أضعف الإيمانAnd he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The religion is sincere advice
الدين النصيحةTo Allah, to His Book, To His Messenger, and to the leaders of the Muslims and their masses.
لله، ولكتابه، ولرسوله، ولأئمة المسلمينن وعامتهمThere is no doubt that abandoning prayer in congregation without an excuse is among the wrongs that must be rebuked. It is obligatory for men to perform the five daily prayers in the mosques, based on much evidence, including his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying:
Whoever hears the call and does not come, his prayer is not valid, except for those who have an excuse.
من سمع النداء فلم يأته فلا صلاة له إلا من عذرDo you hear the call to prayer?
هل تسمع النداء بالصلاة؟Then respond.
فأجبThere are many hadiths in this meaning. It is obligatory for a Muslim, when his brother rebukes him for a wrong, not to become angry and not to respond to him with anything but good. Rather, he should thank him and pray for his well-being, because he called him to obey Allah and reminded him of his right. It is not permissible for him to be arrogant toward the one who calls to the truth; for Allah the Exalted condemned those who do so and threatened them with the punishment of Hell:
And when it is said to him, "Fear Allah," pride in the sin takes hold of him. Sufficient for him is Hellfire, and how wretched is the resting place.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ أَخَذَتْهُ الْعِزَّةُ بِالْإِثْمِ فَحَسْبُهُ جَهَنَّمُ وَلَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.