What is the ruling on a person who comes home
from work tired and has something to eat, then he waits for the adhaan
for ‘Asr and prays at home on his own, and does not go to perform the
prayer with the congregation, then he goes to sleep?
Praise be to Allaah.
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him)
was asked a similar question and he replied:
What you mention is not a valid shar’i excuse for you to
delay praying with the congregation. Rather what you must do is hasten to
pray with your Muslim brothers in the houses of Allaah (the mosques), then
rest and eat after that, because Allaah has made it obligatory for you to
pray on time with your Muslim brothers in congregation. What you mention is
not a legitimate shar’i excuse to delay it. Rather that is a trick of the
Shaytaan and of the (human) self which is inclined towards evil; it is a
sign of weak faith and a lack of fear of Allaah. So beware of your whims and
desires and your shaytaan (devil), and your (human) self which is inclined
towards evil; if you do that the consequences will be good and you will
attain salvation and happiness in this world and in the Hereafter. May
Allaah protect you from the evil of your own self and help you to avoid the
traps of the Shaytaan.