Question is, is it wrong or harsh when I tell them that if Rasulullah were here our house would likely be burnt (referring to a hadith) down as he wanted all the men to go salah at the masjid?

Husband said if they go for Maghrib is good enough since they might get 'burnt out' or the fact that they are going because they are scared of me ... I am so confused .. I told them whether they like it or not they have to go ... it is like salah and fasting, no choice you have to go do especially since the masjid is so very near to us .. so help me please Sheikh Yusuf ..

am I being too harsh a mom and let me know how better to do this or am I saying truth ... inshaAllah this isn't too troublesome for you inshaAllah.

. Answer:

Bismillah Rahman Raheem was salat was salam ala rasool al kareem, maa ba'd.

It appears that your whole family is, maashallah, good Muslims who love Allah and want to be closer to Him. Perhaps you are trying to push them a little too much for their particular condition?

Consider if they could at least pray the two most important salat in the masjid, this would be a great start. (Fajr and Esha) These are mentioned in the hadeeth about nifaq (hypocracy) and all of us need to be aware of missing these great blessings in the jamma'h (congregation).

You mentioned they are very close to the masjid, in this case it is more important than if they lived 30 minutes away or more. But take care not to make a fatwah (Islamic ruling) based on only one or two hadeeth. There is something that all of the scholars must take into consideration when making a fatwah, that is the ahwal (conditions) that surround the circumstances.

Continue to encourage them to pray at least something in the masjid everyday. Then slowly increase from one to two and then to three, etc. You might also show approval to them when they return from the masjid and even have some treats for them in way of appreciation. After all, you are receiving increased blessings from Allah Ta'ala for calling them to these good deeds. You might also ask them to lead you and each other in the salat at home in case they don't make it to the masjid. That is also a jammat, but not as much as the masjid. If they are living close enough to hear the adhan then they should make every effort to attend, as their salat made after that may not count if they could have easily made it in the jammat.

Don't worry about the burning of the house hadeeth too much just yet. I have read explanations from scholars about this and it is not good to take this out of context.

Remember, these days as long as they are improving even a little, day by day, it is better than a flash in the pan and then nothing.

Pray to Allah to guide them (and all of us), inshallah.

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