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..

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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, 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 Qudaamah said 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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, 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-Bukhari and Muslim]. 'Aa’ishah also said: "The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, 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-Bukhari]. Also, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, 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. Thawbaan narrated that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, 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 17133 about the causes of being deprived of provision.

Allaah Knows best.