SalafiMoz | -- 24-06-2010 @ 4:30 PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' issued a statement stressing the importance of congregational Salah (Prayer) and the gravity of neglecting it. The Committee warned against belittlement of this rite within the hearts of the Muslims, since this contradicts the Qur'anic and Sunnah injunctions. In its statement, the Committee referred to the fact that some newspapers publish articles for writers who make light of congregational Salah in Masjids (mosques), depending on some scholarly opinions that it is just supererogatory. The statement stressed that it is Wajib (obligatory) on men to perform congregational Salah in Masjids. The following is the text of the statement: All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions. To proceed: Indeed, performing congregational Salah in Masjids is one of the ways of guidance, and a prominent rite of Islam. Illustrating the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace be upon him) and the practice of the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them) in this regard, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
Thus, Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) illustrated that congregational Salah is a practice of the Messenger (peace be upon him) by which we must abide; that the Sahabah (may Allah be pleased with them) followed this practice, as they regularly performed congregational Salah in Masjids and denounced those who abandoned it; and that it was the custom of the hypocrites, in their time, to neglect congregational Salah in Masjids. Therefore, a Muslim should beware of resembling such people in their neglect of congregational Salah in Masjids. This is based on the Hadiths transmitting the sayings and practices of the Messenger (peace be upon him) regarding congregational Salah. Among these Hadiths are the following: 1) Imam Muslim related that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
2) It was also related on the authority of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
Al-Hafizh ibn Hajar said in his book Bulugh Al-Maram: "It (the preceding Hadith) was related by Ibn Majah, Al-Daraqutny, Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim. Its Isnad (chain of narrators) meets the conditions set by Muslim. Yet, some of them consider it more likely to be a Hadith Mawquf (words or deeds narrated from a Companion of the Prophet that are not attributed to the Prophet)." 3) It was related on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
4) It was also related on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
These Hadiths prove that it is Wajib to go to Masjids upon hearing Adhan (call to Prayer) to perform Salah in congregation. Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah stated: "Not attending (Salah in) Masjids is only allowed for a person who has an excuse, as is proven by the Sunnah and Athar (narrations from the Companions). Performing Salah in Masjids is one of the greatest rites and manifestations of Islam, while neglecting it, either completely or neglecting performance of it in Masjids, erases the effects of Salah (obedience, faith, piety, etc.), in the sense that it will ultimately lead to abandoning it. If it had been Wajib to perform congregational Salah without attending the Masjid, it would not have been permitted to combine Salahs due to rain and the like, where the (requisite) condition of performing Salah at prescribed due time would be disregarded in this case for the sake of a supererogatory act (praying in congregation in the Masjid). Anyone who contemplates the purified Shari`ah (Islamic law), will know that attending the Masjids to perform congregational Salah is an individual obligation, from which one is exempted only for an excuse." In these days, some newspapers publish articles for writers who underestimate performance of congregational Salah in Masjids, where they depend on some scholarly opinions that it is supererogatory. Consequently, they denounce commanding people to abide by it and closing their shops during its time. There is no doubt that it is incumbent on us to follow the evidence given in the Qur'an and the Sunnah, which here indicates that it is Wajib to perform congregational Salah in Masjids. The Qur'an and the Sunnah are the proof against anyone who holds an opinion to the contrary in this or any other matter. Accordingly, the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' opines that belittling this rite contradicts the injunctions introduced in the Qur'an and Sunnah. It is feared that the one who holds such claims be among those meant by the Saying of Allah (Exalted be He):
Imam Ahmad (may Allah be merciful to him) said: "I am amazed at people who, after knowing the authenticity of a statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him), take instead the opinion of Sufyan Al-Thawry." Then Imam Ahmad recited the Saying of Allah (Exalted be He):
Closing commercial stores for the purpose of performing Salah is done to perform congregational Salah. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
Regarding Masjids, Allah (Exalted be He) says:
Ibn Kathir said in his Tafsir (exegesis of the meanings of the Qur'an): "Matar Al-Warraq said: They (the Sahabah) used to sell and buy, but once one of them heard the Adhan while weighing an article, he would put it down and come to Salah." `Aly ibn Abu Talhah reported that the Saying of Allah (Exalted be He):
was interpreted by Ibn `Abbas to mean: The Five Prescribed Salahs. The same exegesis was adopted by Al-Rabi` ibn Anas and Muqatil ibn Hayyan. Al-Suddy said: "This refers to performing congregational Salah." With regard to men who are assigned the task of commanding lazy or unwilling people to go to the Masjids to perform congregational Salah, this follows the example of the Salaf (righteous predecessors); being an essential means to fulfill this obligation. It was part of the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to alert the people he met in his way to perform congregational Salah When he (peace be upon him) passed by a sleeping man (in his way to perform Fajr Prayer), he would call him for Salah or nudge him with his foot.(Related by Abu Dawud, who introduced it as a proof without commenting on it; which indicated his approval). Both `Umar and `Aly (may Allah be pleased with them both) would wake people to perform Fajr Prayer, as is authentically recorded in their biographies; the practice that is followed in these countries. Shaykh `Abdul-Rahman ibn Hasan (may Allah be merciful to him) stated, as is recorded in "Al-Durar Al-Sunniyyah" (4/418): "It is obligatory on the ruler to make it the duty of some (employees) to observe people in the Masjids to know those who take lightly the duty of Salah and neglect congregational Salah in Masjids. The rulers should also appoint deputies in all countries who undertake gathering the people to perform congregational Salah, since this is one of the matters enacted and enjoined by Allah (Exalted be He) and His Messenger (peace be upon him), as is indicated in the Qur'an and Sunnah." There are many Hadiths that deter and warn those who hear Adhan but neglect congregational Salah in Masjids. It is well-known that congregational Salah can only be performed through gathering for it and that taking this matter lightly leads to the neglect of it, which incurs punishment in both worldly life and the Hereafter. Allah (Exalted be He) says:
On the other hand, performing congregational Salah in Masjids entails great benefits, which include the following: - Performance of a great rite of Islam. - Clearance from hypocrisy; Allah (Exalted be He) says:
i.e. maintained through frequenting them and praying in them. - Protection from Satan as he stays away from those who pray in congregation. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
- Friendship, unity and cooperation are developed among Muslims through congregational Salahs. It also entails other great benefits, which is why Allah (Exalted be He) prescribed building Masjids and preparing them for the worshippers to gather there. May Allah grant us all success to gain beneficial knowledge and do righteous deeds. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions. Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' http://alifta.org/BayanNew.aspx?NewsID=2 Faizal ibn Muhammad Al Ussen
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