The Ruling on One Who Delays the Prayer Beyond Its Time
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Question:
Our sister asks about the person who prays the Fajr prayer after the sun has risen on some days, or prays the 'Asr prayer at home. What is the ruling on his prayer? Is it obligatory to boycott him? Or is it obligatory to advise him? Please guide us in this, especially if he is one of our close relatives.
Answer:
It is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman to preserve the five prayers in their times. It is obligatory for all accountable Muslims, men and women, to preserve the prayer in its time: Fajr in its time before the sun, Zuhr in its time after the sun passes its zenith, 'Asr in its time after the shadow of every object becomes equal to its length, after the shadow of the zenith, before the sun turns yellow, Maghrib after the sun sets, and 'Isha after the twilight disappears, and Fajr after the dawn appears and before the sun. This is necessary.
It is obligatory for all accountable Muslims to preserve these five prayers because they are the pillar of Islam. Whoever abandons them commits disbelief; we seek refuge in Allah from that. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam) And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And he said: Sahih Muslim 1854b It was said: O Messenger of Allah! Should we not fight them? He said: Sahih Muslim 1855a This indicates that establishing the prayer is necessary, that it is the pillar of Islam, and that whoever abandons it commits disbelief. It is not permissible to delay Fajr until after the sun rises, nor to delay 'Asr until the sun turns yellow. Rather, it is obligatory to pray them in their times. The correct view is that if one abandons, even a single prayer, intentionally until its time passes, he commits disbelief. We ask Allah for safety. How much more so if he abandons many prayers?
As for if he denies their obligation, he commits disbelief according to all scholars. If he denies the obligation of prayer, he commits disbelief, even if he performs it, even if he prays. If he says: "It is not obligatory," he commits disbelief according to everyone. But if he says: "It is obligatory and a fard, but I am lax and lazy," the majority are of the view that he does not commit major disbelief. The majority of scholars are of the view that he does not commit major disbelief, but rather minor disbelief, and they consider it a great major sin, but not major disbelief. However, he is to be called to repent. If he repents, well and good; otherwise, he is killed as a hadd punishment, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: [At-Tawbah: 5]. This indicates that whoever does not repent is not left alone, but is killed. However, the majority are of the view that he is killed as a hadd punishment, as a transgressor who has committed a great major sin.
The second opinion is that he is killed as a disbeliever—may Allah protect us from that—based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam).
It is obligatory for the believer to pray in congregation. The woman prays at home because it is better for her and more private for her. But the man must pray in the mosque with the people: Fajr, Zuhr, 'Asr, Maghrib, and 'Isha. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Bulugh al-Maram 2:308 It was asked of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) : What is the excuse? He said: .
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 (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 653 He said: Yes. He said: Thus the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded him, saying: "Respond." And he was blind, having no guide to feel his way along the walls, searching for someone to lead him. And yet it is obligatory for him to go to the mosque. How much more so for the sighted and healthy person?
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 791Sahih (Darussalam) He intended this, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) only intends what is right. He intended to burn their houses because they do not attend the congregation with the Muslims. And in a narration by Ahmad: Mishkat al-Masabih 1073.
The point is that this indicates the obligation of performing the prayer in congregation, and that it is not permissible for a Muslim to be absent from it, whether Fajr or any other. Rather, being absent from the congregation in the mosque is among the characteristics of the hypocrites. Being absent from the congregation in the mosque is among the characteristics of the people of hypocrisy. Allah the Exalted said: [An-Nisa: 142], the verse. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 797Sahih (Darussalam).
So the one who is lazy about the Fajr prayer in congregation has imitated the enemies of Allah, the hypocrites, and has abandoned a great obligation. It is obligatory for him to fear Allah, and it is obligatory for his family to advise him. And it is obligatory for his father to take charge of him if he has a father, or a grandfather, or an older brother, to compel him to do so and discipline him until he prays in congregation. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan ad-Daraqutni 3:5.
So the son who is absent from the congregation, and has reached ten years of age or more, is disciplined by his father, and so is his older brother. If he has reached puberty, the matter becomes even greater. We ask Allah for guidance for all of us. There is no power and no strength except with Allah. Yes.
The presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh! She concluded her question by saying: Do we boycott him, or do we continue to advise him?
The Shaykh: Do what is best. If the best is to continue, perhaps Allah will guide him through your means. So continue the advice, and seek help in that from those of his close relatives and friends you see, perhaps it will benefit. If he persists and the advice does not benefit, then it is obligatory that he be boycotted, and that his case be raised to the one in authority, to the court, or to the committee, so that he is dealt with with the punishment he deserves. His case is raised by the one in authority, the judge, the court, or the committee, if there is a committee in your country, so that they bring him and establish the command of Allah upon him. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. So you prefer, Your Eminence, advice?
Answer: If it is beneficial and if its benefit is expected. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Our sister asks about the person who prays the Fajr prayer after the sun has risen on some days, or prays the 'Asr prayer at home. What is the ruling on his prayer? Is it obligatory to boycott him? Or is it obligatory to advise him? Please guide us in this, especially if he is one of our close relatives.
Answer:
It is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman to preserve the five prayers in their times. It is obligatory for all accountable Muslims, men and women, to preserve the prayer in its time: Fajr in its time before the sun, Zuhr in its time after the sun passes its zenith, 'Asr in its time after the shadow of every object becomes equal to its length, after the shadow of the zenith, before the sun turns yellow, Maghrib after the sun sets, and 'Isha after the twilight disappears, and Fajr after the dawn appears and before the sun. This is necessary.
It is obligatory for all accountable Muslims to preserve these five prayers because they are the pillar of Islam. Whoever abandons them commits disbelief; we seek refuge in Allah from that. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The covenant that distinguishes between us and them is prayer; so whoever leaves it, he has committed Kufr.
العهد الذي بيننا وبينهم الصلاة، فمن تركها؛ فقد كفرBetween a man and disbelief and shirk (associating partners with Allah) is the abandonment of prayer.
بين الرجل، وبين الكفر والشرك ترك الصلاةAmirs will be appointed over you, and you will find them doing good as well as bad deeds
إنه يلي عليكم أمراء، فتعرفون وتنكرونNo, as long as they establish prayer among you.
لا، ما أقاموا فيكم الصلاةAs for if he denies their obligation, he commits disbelief according to all scholars. If he denies the obligation of prayer, he commits disbelief, even if he performs it, even if he prays. If he says: "It is not obligatory," he commits disbelief according to everyone. But if he says: "It is obligatory and a fard, but I am lax and lazy," the majority are of the view that he does not commit major disbelief. The majority of scholars are of the view that he does not commit major disbelief, but rather minor disbelief, and they consider it a great major sin, but not major disbelief. However, he is to be called to repent. If he repents, well and good; otherwise, he is killed as a hadd punishment, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way
فَإِنْ تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُمْThe second opinion is that he is killed as a disbeliever—may Allah protect us from that—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 الصلاةThe covenant that distinguishes between us and them is prayer; so whoever leaves it, he has committed Kufr.
العهد الذي بيننا وبينهم الصلاة، فمن تركها؛ فقد كفرIt is obligatory for the believer to pray in congregation. The woman prays at home because it is better for her and more private for her. But the man must pray in the mosque with the people: Fajr, Zuhr, 'Asr, Maghrib, and 'Isha. 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 عذرIllness, or fear.
مرض، أو خوفA 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 (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do you hear the call to prayer?
هل تسمع النداء بالصلاة؟Then respond.
فأجبAnd 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 برجل فيؤم الناس، ثم أنطلق برجال معهم حزم من حطب إلى قوم لا يشهدون الصلاة، فأحرق عليهم بيوتهمWere it not for the women and children who are in the houses
لولا ما في البيوت من النساء والذرية لحرقتها عليهمThe point is that this indicates the obligation of performing the prayer in congregation, and that it is not permissible for a Muslim to be absent from it, whether Fajr or any other. Rather, being absent from the congregation in the mosque is among the characteristics of the hypocrites. Being absent from the congregation in the mosque is among the characteristics of the people of hypocrisy. Allah the Exalted said:
Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىThe most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are the 'Isha' prayer and the Fajr prayer. If only they knew what (reward) there is in them, they would come to them even if they had to crawl.
أثقل الصلاة على المنافقين صلاة العشاء، وصلاة الفجر، ولو يعلمون ما فيهما لأتوهما ولو حبواSo the one who is lazy about the Fajr prayer in congregation has imitated the enemies of Allah, the hypocrites, and has abandoned a great obligation. It is obligatory for him to fear Allah, and it is obligatory for his family to advise him. And it is obligatory for his father to take charge of him if he has a father, or a grandfather, or an older brother, to compel him to do so and discipline him until he prays in congregation. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Order your children to pray at the age of seven, hit them for it at the age of ten, and separate them in their beds.
مروا أولادكم بالصلاة لسبع، واضربوهم عليها لعشر، وفرقوا بينهم في المضاجعSo the son who is absent from the congregation, and has reached ten years of age or more, is disciplined by his father, and so is his older brother. If he has reached puberty, the matter becomes even greater. We ask Allah for guidance for all of us. There is no power and no strength except with Allah. Yes.
The presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh! She concluded her question by saying: Do we boycott him, or do we continue to advise him?
The Shaykh: Do what is best. If the best is to continue, perhaps Allah will guide him through your means. So continue the advice, and seek help in that from those of his close relatives and friends you see, perhaps it will benefit. If he persists and the advice does not benefit, then it is obligatory that he be boycotted, and that his case be raised to the one in authority, to the court, or to the committee, so that he is dealt with with the punishment he deserves. His case is raised by the one in authority, the judge, the court, or the committee, if there is a committee in your country, so that they bring him and establish the command of Allah upon him. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. So you prefer, Your Eminence, advice?
Answer: If it is beneficial and if its benefit is expected. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.