I prayed the midday prayer at home, then I learned that the imam had combined the afternoon prayer with the midday prayer. Is it obligatory for me to go to the mosque when the call to prayer is made for the time of the afternoon prayer?

The questioner: My Shaykh, regarding the combining of prayers, for example, I did not pray the midday prayer in the mosque; I did not pray the midday prayer in the mosque, and they combined the prayers. I prayed the midday prayer at home, and I am certain that they combined them. Do I go to pray the afternoon prayer?

The Shaykh: No.

The questioner: I pray it, meaning, at home.

The Shaykh: Do not pray it. Go to the afternoon prayer that they combined. No, as for the afternoon prayer at its proper time, you must go and pray with the congregation at the time of the afternoon prayer.

The questioner: Let me tell you, let me repeat the question, Shaykh.

The Shaykh: I will repeat it for you.

The questioner: Hehehe.

The Shaykh: I will repeat it for you.

The questioner: Okay, Shaykh, a person who prayed went to the mosque.

The Shaykh: Listen, my brother, let him do what he wants. Yes, brother.

The questioner: Shaykh, now they have prayed the afternoon prayer. I am going to...

The Shaykh: Did they pray the afternoon prayer or the midday prayer?

The questioner: The midday and afternoon prayers combined.

The Shaykh: That is what you said, the midday and afternoon prayers.

The questioner: They combined them at the time of the midday prayer.

The Shaykh: And you had prayed the midday prayer at home.

The questioner: At home.

The Shaykh: All right.

The questioner: So now the call to prayer is being made.

The Shaykh: You say the call to prayer is being made for what? The afternoon prayer?

The questioner: The afternoon prayer. Yes.

The Shaykh: Yes, this is what I told you: you must go to the mosque to pray with the congregation at the time of the afternoon prayer.