He replied:
If the speaker meant that Allah commanded them to pray in the sense that He made prayer obligatory upon them, then the second man is correct. But if he meant that they are commanded—that is, that men command them to pray because Allah has commanded those men to instruct them—or that prayer is recommended for children, then the speaker is correct.
As for the statement, “This is not a command from Allah”: if the person means that it is not a command from Allah addressed to children, but rather a command addressed to those who instruct children, then he is correct. But if he means that this is not a command from Allah addressed to anyone, then this is an error which he must retract, and he must seek Allah’s forgiveness. Allah knows best.
He was asked:
Some people delay nighttime prayer until daytime because of concerns such as planting, ploughing, being in a state of major ritual impurity, serving a master, or other matters. Is this permissible for them or not?
He replied:
No one may delay daytime prayer until night, or nighttime prayer until day, because of any occupation or concern—whether harvesting, ploughing, practising a craft, being in a state of major ritual impurity, the presence of impurity, hunting, amusement, play, serving a master, or anything else. Rather, all Muslims agree that he must