The Obligation of Caring for the Congregational Prayer
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Question:
The Shaykh: Abdul Aziz! I do not know, but there is a matter required of the Muslim regarding prayer, and that matter is: that he prays in congregation, and by congregation I mean the congregations of the mosques. Perhaps you have a directive regarding this?
Answer:
Yes, this is among the important matters. It is obligatory for a man to care for the congregation and not to pray in his home, neither the Fajr prayer nor any of the other prayers. Rather, it is obligatory for him to attend with the Muslims and pray with the Muslims, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions did. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Bulugh al-Maram 2:308 It was said to Ibn Abbas: "What is the excuse?" He said: "Fear or illness." A blind man came to him and said: "O Messenger of Allah! I have no guide to lead me to the mosque, so do I have a dispensation to pray in my home?" He said: Sahih Muslim 653 He said: Yes. He said: And he did not grant him a dispensation despite the fact that he was blind and had no guide to lead him; he did not grant him a dispensation to abandon praying with the Muslims in the mosques.
It is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: "He intended to burn down the houses of those who lagged behind." This indicates that the matter is great. For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 791Sahih (Darussalam) And in another wording: Sunan Ibn Majah 791Sahih (Darussalam) This indicates that the matter is great, and that those who lag behind are deserving of this punishment.
Therefore, the believer should, indeed it is obligatory upon him, to beware of the characteristics of the hypocrites, and to hasten to maintain the prayer in congregation at all times, in obedience to Allah and His Messenger, and out of fear of the anger and punishment of Allah. May Allah help us.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. May Allah help us.
The Shaykh: Abdul Aziz! I do not know, but there is a matter required of the Muslim regarding prayer, and that matter is: that he prays in congregation, and by congregation I mean the congregations of the mosques. Perhaps you have a directive regarding this?
Answer:
Yes, this is among the important matters. It is obligatory for a man to care for the congregation and not to pray in his home, neither the Fajr prayer nor any of the other prayers. Rather, it is obligatory for him to attend with the Muslims and pray with the Muslims, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions did. He (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 عذرDo you hear the call to prayer?
هل تسمع النداء بالصلاة؟Then respond.
فأجبIt is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: "He intended to burn down the houses of those who lagged behind." This indicates that the matter is great. For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
I was thinking of commanding that the call to prayer be given, then I would tell a man to lead the people in prayer, then I would go out with some other men carrying bundles of wood, and go to people who do not attend the prayer, and burn their houses down around them.
لقد هممت أن آمر بالصلاة فتقام ثم آمر رجلًا فيؤم الناس، ثم أنطلق برجال معهم حزم من حطب إلى رجال لا يشهدون الصلاة فأحرق عليهم بيوتهمand go to people who do not attend the prayer, and burn their houses down around them
إلى قوم لا يشهدون الصلاة فأحرق عليهم بيوتهمTherefore, the believer should, indeed it is obligatory upon him, to beware of the characteristics of the hypocrites, and to hasten to maintain the prayer in congregation at all times, in obedience to Allah and His Messenger, and out of fear of the anger and punishment of Allah. May Allah help us.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. May Allah help us.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.