If dinner is served and the prayer time arrives, which takes precedence?
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Question:
I heard that when the call to the 'Isha' prayer is heard and I am eating dinner, it is not valid for me to leave the food to go to the mosque. Does this apply if I have not yet started my dinner?
I ask for clarification. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
Yes, if dinner is served at the time of the Maghrib, 'Isha', or 'Asr prayer, the food takes precedence. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): In another wording: Bulugh al-Maram 2:108 And in another wording: Sahih Muslim 560a.
So, when a believer's food is served, he starts with the food. Because if he goes to pray while the food is present, he goes with his heart preoccupied, and he does not perform the prayer as it should be. So he starts with the food, then prays the prayer with a focused, empty heart, he is humble in the prayer, and he devotes himself to it.
But it is not befitting for him to make that a habit for himself, and he should not order them to bring the food at the time of prayer. No, rather, it is obligatory for him to start with the prayer, and to take care of the prayer, and not to proceed with bringing the food. But if it happens that the food is brought, he starts with it. But it is not obligatory for him to make it a habit, and to use it as an excuse to waste the prayer in congregation. We seek refuge in Allah from that. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
I heard that when the call to the 'Isha' prayer is heard and I am eating dinner, it is not valid for me to leave the food to go to the mosque. Does this apply if I have not yet started my dinner?
I ask for clarification. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
Yes, if dinner is served at the time of the Maghrib, 'Isha', or 'Asr prayer, the food takes precedence. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
If dinner is served and the 'Isha' prayer time arrives, start with the dinner.
إذا قدم العشاء وحضر العشاء فابدؤوا بالعشاءIf supper is brought (and the prayer is ready) start with it (the food) before you pray the Maghrib (prayer).
إذا قدم العشاء فابدؤوا به قبل أن تصلوا المغربNo prayer can be (rightly said) when the food is there (before the worshipper), or when he is prompted by the call of nature.
لا صلاة بحضرة الطعام، ولا وهو يدافعه الأخبثانSo, when a believer's food is served, he starts with the food. Because if he goes to pray while the food is present, he goes with his heart preoccupied, and he does not perform the prayer as it should be. So he starts with the food, then prays the prayer with a focused, empty heart, he is humble in the prayer, and he devotes himself to it.
But it is not befitting for him to make that a habit for himself, and he should not order them to bring the food at the time of prayer. No, rather, it is obligatory for him to start with the prayer, and to take care of the prayer, and not to proceed with bringing the food. But if it happens that the food is brought, he starts with it. But it is not obligatory for him to make it a habit, and to use it as an excuse to waste the prayer in congregation. We seek refuge in Allah from that. 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.