Answered by: Maulana Mohammed Haroon Hussain
Question:
Assalaamu Alaikum. My uncle asks: would it be preferred for his sons (16 and 11 years old) to pray zuhr in jamaat at 1:30 when the time comes in or delay until he arrives at 5? The Shafii time begins around 5:27 there.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Delaying the salaah for such a long period of time is sinful as well as a bad habit. It would be preferred for the sons to pray Zuhr in jamaat at 1:30. The uncle should try to pray in jamaat himself at a masjid close to him, not make the others delay that long for him.
Imam Tirmidhi t has mentioned many ahadith on the subject of praying salaah in its earlier time and that this is better[1]. I will mention some from that chapter to make the matter clearer. One narration mentions that the most virtuous action is salaah at its beginning time[2]. Another narration mentions that (prayer at) the beginning time of salaah is (a cause of) the pleasure of Allah[3]. Another narration mentions the advice that Rasulullah ﷺ gave to Sayyiduna Ali regarding 3 matters which one should not delay in and one of those was salaah when its time has arrived[4].
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Mohammed Haroon Hussain
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1] جامع الترمذي ص145 – 146 ، باب ما جاء في الوقت الأول من الفضل – رقم الحديث 167 – 171
[2] أي الأعمال أفضل؟ قالﷺ: الصلاة لأول وقتها
[3] الوقت الأول من الصلاة رضوان الله والوقت الآخر عفو الله
[4] يا علي ، ثلاث لا تؤخرها: الصلاة اذا آنت..الخ