The ruling on an elderly person praying before the time of prayer has entered
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Question:
This questioner is from the Sultanate of Oman and says—Your Eminence, the Shaykh—: Most of the elderly, at a certain stage when they have advanced in age, are unable to distinguish between the times of prayer. You find some of them, at times, standing and praying the 'Asr prayer at around two-thirty, when the time has not yet entered in such a case. And sometimes at three o'clock, despite being convinced that the time for prayer has not yet arrived, they do not easily accept it. So, is their prayer accepted, given their state of old age and advanced age, and sometimes they are not in a state of wudu' due to their advanced age, as I mentioned?
Answer:
They are informed and directed if they are of sound mind. It is not permissible for them to pray except after the time has entered. If they hear the adhan, they pray, if they are unable to go to the mosques. It is said to them: It is not permissible; the prayer is invalid, unless he is a sick person who is allowed to combine prayers. If he is old in age and unable, he prays the Dhuhr and 'Asr, there is no harm in their times, in the time of one of them, it is valid. Or the Maghrib and 'Isha' in the time of one of them, it is valid; because he is unable to pray every prayer in its time. So if he prays the Dhuhr in the time of 'Asr, or the 'Asr in the time of Dhuhr, and combines them, there is no harm. Or the Maghrib and 'Isha' likewise; due to his old age and inability.
As for if his sense has gone, and he does not reason, his mind has left him, then he owes nothing, he has no prayer obligation; his prayer is invalid, and he is not occupied with it, if his mind has changed and become disordered. But if his mind is with him, sound, and he knows, it is obligatory for him to pray the Dhuhr and 'Asr in their time, and the Maghrib and 'Isha' in their time. And there is no harm in combining if it is difficult for him to pray every prayer in its time. And if he is able to pray with the people, he is obligated to go out so that he prays with the people in the mosques. And Allah is the Helper.
The presenter: Allah is the Helper. If the sons and daughters stand by their elderly father, do they have a reward if they teach him and assist him in performing the prayer?
The Shaykh: Yes, they are rewarded. Rather, it is obligatory for them if he is ignorant; it is obligatory for them to teach him, but with gentleness, with kind words, and gentleness, not harshness; so that he accepts from them. And so with others—of the elderly or others—the teacher seeks gentleness; because this is closer to acceptance, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 4809Sahih (Al-Albani) So the son with his father, and with his elder brother, and with his grandfather, and with his mother, he is very gentle; perhaps he will accept from him. And so with others; for harshness may cause deprivation and lack of benefit, but he is gentle. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
This questioner is from the Sultanate of Oman and says—Your Eminence, the Shaykh—: Most of the elderly, at a certain stage when they have advanced in age, are unable to distinguish between the times of prayer. You find some of them, at times, standing and praying the 'Asr prayer at around two-thirty, when the time has not yet entered in such a case. And sometimes at three o'clock, despite being convinced that the time for prayer has not yet arrived, they do not easily accept it. So, is their prayer accepted, given their state of old age and advanced age, and sometimes they are not in a state of wudu' due to their advanced age, as I mentioned?
Answer:
They are informed and directed if they are of sound mind. It is not permissible for them to pray except after the time has entered. If they hear the adhan, they pray, if they are unable to go to the mosques. It is said to them: It is not permissible; the prayer is invalid, unless he is a sick person who is allowed to combine prayers. If he is old in age and unable, he prays the Dhuhr and 'Asr, there is no harm in their times, in the time of one of them, it is valid. Or the Maghrib and 'Isha' in the time of one of them, it is valid; because he is unable to pray every prayer in its time. So if he prays the Dhuhr in the time of 'Asr, or the 'Asr in the time of Dhuhr, and combines them, there is no harm. Or the Maghrib and 'Isha' likewise; due to his old age and inability.
As for if his sense has gone, and he does not reason, his mind has left him, then he owes nothing, he has no prayer obligation; his prayer is invalid, and he is not occupied with it, if his mind has changed and become disordered. But if his mind is with him, sound, and he knows, it is obligatory for him to pray the Dhuhr and 'Asr in their time, and the Maghrib and 'Isha' in their time. And there is no harm in combining if it is difficult for him to pray every prayer in its time. And if he is able to pray with the people, he is obligated to go out so that he prays with the people in the mosques. And Allah is the Helper.
The presenter: Allah is the Helper. If the sons and daughters stand by their elderly father, do they have a reward if they teach him and assist him in performing the prayer?
The Shaykh: Yes, they are rewarded. Rather, it is obligatory for them if he is ignorant; it is obligatory for them to teach him, but with gentleness, with kind words, and gentleness, not harshness; so that he accepts from them. And so with others—of the elderly or others—the teacher seeks gentleness; because this is closer to acceptance, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
He who is deprived of gentleness is deprived of good.
من يحرم الرفق يحرم الخير كلهThe presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.