Ruling on one who combines prayers in his home and leaves the congregation

Machine translationRead the Arabic original

The questioner, may the Shaykh be respected, has another question. She recalls saying: My sister’s husband prays at home, and he does not pray the prayers at their times; rather, he combines them and prays them while returning from work. Is this the first part?
Answer: This is reprehensible. This action is not permissible. He must pray with the congregation and pray the prayer at its time. He has no right to delay it beyond its time. Rather, it is obligatory for him to pray the prayer at its time, and it is obligatory for him to pray it in congregation with his Muslim brothers as well. This is because Allah has appointed times for the prayers, and He the Exalted and Majestic said:

Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.

إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَوْقُوتًا

[Al-Nisa: 103], meaning: it is obligatory at specific times. And He the Exalted said:

Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night

أَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَىى غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ

[Al-Isra: 78], the verse.
The prayer must be performed at its appointed time, and he is not permitted to delay it beyond its time, and he must perform it in congregation; for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

Whoever hears the call for prayer and and does not come (to the mosque for prayer), his prayer will not be accepted from him, unless he has a (legitimate) excuse.

من سمع النداء فلم يأت فلا صلاة له إلا من عذر

Bulugh al-Maram 2:308

And it was said to Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): What is the excuse? He said:

Fear or illness

خوف أو مرض

And a blind man came to him and said: 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 said, (peace and blessings be upon him): Do you hear the call to prayer? He said: Yes. He said: Then respond

وجاءه رجل أعمى فقال: يا رسول الله! ليس لي قائد يقودني إلى المسجد فهل لي من رخصة أن أصلي في بيتي؟ فقال صلى الله عليه وسلم: هل تسمع النداء بالصلاة؟ قال: نعم، قال: فأجب

So he was commanded to respond, even though he was blind and had no guide; how much more so is the case for the one who can see?! The obligation upon him is more severe and greater.
And delaying the prayer beyond its time is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) according to a group of scholars. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):

Between a man and disbelief and shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the abandonment of prayer.

بين الرجل وبين الكفر والشرك ترك الصلاة

If one delays the Fajr prayer until the sun rises intentionally, or delays the Asr prayer until the sun sets intentionally, then he has delayed the prayer beyond its time. Thus, he commits disbelief according to a group of scholars. This is based on his saying (peace and blessings be upon him):

Between a man and disbelief and shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the abandonment of prayer.

بين الرجل وبين الكفر والشرك ترك الصلاة

Muslim narrated it in his Sahih.
So, it is obligatory to be cautious regarding leniency in this matter. We ask Allah for well-being and safety. Yes.
The presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good, may the Shaykh be respected.

Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

Similar fatwas