Question Summary:
What are the merits of praying Salaah on time?

Question Detail:

What are the merits of praying Salaah on time and with jamaat? Will we be sinful if we miss salat on time?  

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykumwa-rahmatullāhiwa-barakaatuh.
 
Shariah has emphasised on praying salah on time. Consider the following verses.
 
إِنَّ الصَّلاةَ كانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتاباً مَوْقُوتاً 
Indeed prayer was prescribed upon the believers to be performed at fixed times. (Surah Nisaa verse 103)
 
 
حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَى وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ
 
Guard/Protect (your) prayers and particularly the middle prayer and stand before Allah with devotion (Surah Baqarah verse 238)
 
The Prophet (Sallalaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) also emphasises on performing salah on time. See the following Ahaadith
 
سُئِلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَيُّ الأَعْمَالِ أَفْضَلُ؟ قَالَ: الصَّلاَةُ لأَوَّلِ وَقْتِهَا.
The Prophet (Sallalaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) was once asked which action is most virtuous? He replied “Performing salah in its initial/exact time” (Sunan Tirmizi Edition Baashir Vol 1 Page 237)
 
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ رَجُلًا، فَيُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ، ثُمَّ آمُرَ بِأُنَاسٍ لَا يُصَلُّونَ مَعَنَا، فَتُحَرَّق عَلَيْهِمْ بُيُوتُهُمْ»
 The Prophet (Sallalaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said “I intended to order one man to lead people in salah thereafter I command that those people who do not pray together with us, their houses be set on fire upon them. (Musnad Ahmad Vol.6 Page 288 Hadith No.3743)
 
 
The Prophet (Sallalaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) also emphasises to perform salah with Jamaat. See the following Haadith
 
 
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " صَلاَةُ الرَّجُلِ فِي الجَمَاعَةِ تُضَعَّفُ عَلَى صَلاَتِهِ فِي بَيْتِهِ، وَفِي سُوقِهِ، خَمْسًا وَعِشْرِينَ ضِعْفًا،
The Prophet (Sallalaahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said “The salah of a man in congregation is multiplied 25 times than his salah in his home and his shop” (Bukhaari Vol. 1 Page 108)
 
In the above mentioned hadith we are encouraged to perform our salah with Jamaat(Congregation) because such a salah is 25 up to 27 times reward able compared to salah performed individually. Another advantage of salah performed in the masjid with jamaat is that, it is always prayed on time.
 If one were to be offered two job opportunities, one has an income of 1dollar per day another has an income of 25/27 dollars per day, everyone will choose the second job without any hesitation. Similarly is the case with salah prayed with jamaat. It has more rewards than the salah prayed individually.
It is clear from the above references, on the importance of performing salah on time that missing salah is a major sin.
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
 
Saeed Ncane 
Student DarulIftaa
South Africa 
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.