The ruler who delays the prayer beyond its time

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ubadah bin al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Soon there will be rulers over you whom their preoccupations will lead to delay the prayers beyond their times. You should pray the prayers at their proper time." A man said: "O Messenger of Allah, if I catch the prayer with them, should I pray with them?" He said: "Yes, if you wish."

Sayyiduna Abdullah (bin Mas'ud) (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Soon there will be rulers over you who will delay the prayers beyond their times and squeeze them until the last gasp of the dying (the sun's final light). When you see them doing that, pray in your homes, and then pray with them with the intention of a voluntary prayer.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Pray the prayer at its proper time."

Al-A'mash said: I saw Ibrahim and Khaythamah pray Zuhr and Asr in their homes, and then they would come to al-Hajjaj and pray with him as well.

Muslim said: In the time of Ziyad I used to sit with Masruq and Abu Ubaydah in the mosque. When the time of Zuhr entered, the two of them prayed Zuhr, then sat down; and when the muezzin gave the call and the imam came out, they prayed with the imam as well. And the two of them did the same in the Asr prayer.

Abu Hashim said: Once al-Hajjaj delayed the prayer, so Abu Wa'il prayed seated, by gestures.

Ali al-Azdi said: Once at Arafah al-Hajjaj delayed the prayer, so Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) prayed on his mount while the people were standing there. Al-Hajjaj gave an order concerning him, and his mount was goaded.

Abd al-Malik bin Umayr said: Abu Ubaydah used to wait for Maghrib; when the rulers delayed the prayer, he would undo his hubwah (the cloth wrapped around his knees while sitting) and leave.

Amir bin Shaqiq said: Al-Hajjaj used to delay the Friday prayer, so Abu Wa'il would order us to pray in our homes and then come to the mosque.

Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: My beloved friend, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), instructed me to pray the prayers at their proper times. Then, after you have prayed, if you see that the people have already prayed, your prayer is secured; and if they have not yet prayed, join them, and your prayer will become a voluntary (nafl) prayer.

Muhammad bin Abi Isma'il said: When al-Walid delayed the prayer, Ata and Sa'id bin Jubayr prayed by gestures within the time of the prayer, then they remained seated, and they prayed with al-Walid. I saw them do this many times.