Fathwa, - Her husband does not pray in the Masjid all the time

Question
Assalamu Alaicom! I would like to know the ruling on a man who is not
always praying at the masjid. My husband works at a very far place, he
is taking the bus for his transport, at this heat, he would arrive at
home very tired. Sometimes, he had to wait more or less 30 mins
everytime for the bus from home going to the terminal then another
waiting time from the terminal to his workplace, same pattern after
work. His work finishes at 3pm but he arrived mostly at 5pm. For that
reason, he wud easily fell asleep after eating and praying asr, I need
to wake him up for Maghrib but sometimes he can't make it in the
Masjid because he's saying dat he is tired and can't make it there,
after he prayed Maghrib he would again sleep and some times pray at
the masjid for Eisha, some times not and would pray Eisha very late in
the evening, he'd say dat he feels very weak and tired. During salatul
Fajr, most often, he still can't make it in the Masjid. In this
situation, I am very disappointed, is his situation a valid reason for
not praying in the Masjid? tired and weak from work? This is always
the subject of my nagging. I hate his attitude. I would love him more
and really want him to be always praying at the Masjid no matter what
because I believe it is wajib for every man, he also knows the
importance. What should I do to make him love it and make it a top
priority? We are currently experiencing a very hard financial dilemma,
the company is giving them their salary very late, every after 3
months, we would only get 1 month, not enough to pay for the house
rent and the expenses, our debts are left and right. I am not
complaining on this matter because I know that this is a matter of
test, I praise Allah for everything but sometimes, I can't help but to
think that maybe we're failing in doing ibadah that's why our
sustenance is getting short. As I have read in some other Islamic
articles that, provisions will be less to those who are low in doing
ibadah/good deeds..
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad,
is His Slave and Messenger.
We thank our dear sister for her keenness to make her husband offer
prayer in the mosque in congregation; however, she should not fight or
quarrel with him. There is absolutely no doubt that offering prayer in
congregation in the mosque is one of the best acts of worship.
Whenever a Muslim man is able to maintain praying in congregation in
the mosque, it is more appropriate for that entails a great reward.
However, if he experiences difficulty and exhaustion, then there is no
blame on him to offer it at home, especially if he is able to offer it
in congregation along with his family. Although some scholars view
that the congregational prayer in the mosque is obligatory, the
majority of the scholars are of the view that it is not. Also, many of
those who view that it is obligatory do not view that it is obligatory
to perform it in the mosque, rather they believe that the obligation
is fulfilled by offering it in congregation in any place.
Ibn Qudaamahsaid in Al-Mughni:"It is permissible to offer it - i.e.
the congregational prayer - at home and in the desert. It was also
said in another narration )from Imaam Ahmad( that attending prayer in
the mosque is obligatory if someone is close to the mosque because it
was narrated that the Prophet, said: "There is no prayer for a
neighbour of the mosque except in the mosque. However, what supports
our view is the saying of the Prophet: "I have been given five things
which were not given to any amongst the Prophets before me: The earth
has been made for me )and for my followers( a place for praying and
for performing Tayammum )dry ablution(; therefore my followers can
pray wherever the time of a prayer is due." ]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[.
'Aa'ishahalso said: "The Prophet, prayed at home when he was sick. He
prayed sitting down and some people prayed behind him standing up, so
he gestured to them to sit down." ]Al-Bukhaari[. Also, the Prophet,
said to two men: "If you have already prayed at your resting places
and then came to a mosque with congregation, pray with them too and it
will be a supererogatory prayer for you."]End quote[
Again, the scholars who are of the view that offering congregation in
the mosque is obligatory )upon men( allowed that one may not attend it
in the mosque for some excuses. In fact, we do not mention this as a
form of taking matters lightly; rather, it is to clarify that the
matter is easy. So, if one is exhausted and finds difficulty to go to
the mosque, then there is no blame on him, Allaah Willing, to pray at
home although it is more appropriate to go to the mosque as we have
stated previously. In any case, it is not permissible for one to delay
prayers beyond the time when they are due.
On the other hand, there is absolutely no doubt that a person may be
deprived of provision because of sins that he commits.Thawbaannarrated
that the Messenger of Allaah, said: "A person may be deprived of
provision because of a sin that he commits." ]Ahmad[
However, we hope that you have an excuse because of the difficulty
from which your husband suffers and thus do not worry. For more
benefit, kindly refer to Fatwa 17133about the causes of being deprived
of provision.
Allaah Knows best.