What is the ruling on one who delays an obligatory prayer, even by a few minutes?
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Question:
The second question: What is the ruling on one who delays an obligatory prayer, even by a few minutes, after hearing the adhan, without a strong excuse?
Answer:
The Sunnah is to delay slightly after the adhan and not to rush into prayer immediately after the adhan; because the adhan may be called early, or it may be called before the time has entered. So the precaution is to perform the prayer a few minutes after the adhan, such as a quarter of an hour, a third of an hour, or half an hour; all of this is permissible. However, it is better to hasten in the Maghrib prayer more than in the others, because its time is shorter than the others. So the best is to hasten in it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to hasten in it. If one prays it ten minutes or eight minutes after the adhan, that is good. And if one delays it a quarter of an hour or a third, there is no blame on him for that.
The point is: there is no blame on one who prays the prayer at the beginning of its time, or in the middle of its time, or at the end of its time. But the best is that it be at the beginning of its time; this is the best, except if the heat is intense in the Zuhr prayer, then the best is to delay it until the heat breaks. Likewise, in the Isha prayer, the best in principle is to delay it to the first third of the night, except if the people of the mosque have gathered, for the Sunnah is to hasten and not to keep them waiting. Likewise, the sick person and the woman in the house, if she delays some time in the Isha prayer, it is better. And if the public benefit requires hastening, such as if she needs to sleep early, or likewise if the sick person hastens with it.
So the summary is: it is recommended to delay the Isha prayer to the third of the night, or what is close to that; this is the best if there is no harm to anyone in this. Likewise, in the congregational Isha prayer, it is recommended for the imam to delay it if they have not gathered. If they have gathered, he hastens. And so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do: if he saw them gathered, he hastened, and if he saw them slow, he delayed it (peace and blessings be upon him). And the Zuhr is likewise due to the intensity of the heat; if the heat became intense, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would cool off with the Zuhr and order the cooling off. This is the Sunnah. Yes.
The second question: What is the ruling on one who delays an obligatory prayer, even by a few minutes, after hearing the adhan, without a strong excuse?
Answer:
The Sunnah is to delay slightly after the adhan and not to rush into prayer immediately after the adhan; because the adhan may be called early, or it may be called before the time has entered. So the precaution is to perform the prayer a few minutes after the adhan, such as a quarter of an hour, a third of an hour, or half an hour; all of this is permissible. However, it is better to hasten in the Maghrib prayer more than in the others, because its time is shorter than the others. So the best is to hasten in it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to hasten in it. If one prays it ten minutes or eight minutes after the adhan, that is good. And if one delays it a quarter of an hour or a third, there is no blame on him for that.
The point is: there is no blame on one who prays the prayer at the beginning of its time, or in the middle of its time, or at the end of its time. But the best is that it be at the beginning of its time; this is the best, except if the heat is intense in the Zuhr prayer, then the best is to delay it until the heat breaks. Likewise, in the Isha prayer, the best in principle is to delay it to the first third of the night, except if the people of the mosque have gathered, for the Sunnah is to hasten and not to keep them waiting. Likewise, the sick person and the woman in the house, if she delays some time in the Isha prayer, it is better. And if the public benefit requires hastening, such as if she needs to sleep early, or likewise if the sick person hastens with it.
So the summary is: it is recommended to delay the Isha prayer to the third of the night, or what is close to that; this is the best if there is no harm to anyone in this. Likewise, in the congregational Isha prayer, it is recommended for the imam to delay it if they have not gathered. If they have gathered, he hastens. And so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do: if he saw them gathered, he hastened, and if he saw them slow, he delayed it (peace and blessings be upon him). And the Zuhr is likewise due to the intensity of the heat; if the heat became intense, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would cool off with the Zuhr and order the cooling off. This is the Sunnah. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.