This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Hussain bin Mubarak Al-Mosuli's Arabic book Al-Awamer wal Nawaahi, whose Urdu translation has been done by Muhammad Sarwar Gohar Sahib under the title Ahkamaat o Mamnooat.
Waiting for Prayer and the Related Instructions
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
لا يزال أحدكم فى صلاة ما دامت الصلاة تحبسه، لا يمنعه أن ينقلب إلى أهله إلا الصلاة
"Each one of you is in prayer as long as he is prevented from going to his family by the prayer."
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Prayer, Hadith 659. Muslim, Book of Mosques, Hadith 649/275.
Meaning, he is in the reward of prayer, not in the ruling of prayer, because it is permissible for him to talk and do other things which are not permissible during the state of prayer.
Reference: See Fath al-Bari 2/167.
If something else diverts his intention from it, then the mentioned reward will be cut off. Similarly, if something else joins in the waiting, the mentioned reward will also be cut off. Will he get the reward of praying in the mosque even if he is not there? The apparent ruling is against this, because the mentioned reward is based on the combination of intention and being engaged in worship there. But the mentioned person (who is sitting in waiting) has the reward specifically for him.
② It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) delayed the Isha prayer one night until midnight. Then he turned his blessed face towards us and said:
صلى الناس ورقدوا ولم تزالوا فى صلاة منذ انتظرتموها
"People have prayed and gone to sleep, and you have been in prayer as long as you waited for the prayer."
Reference: Bukhari, Book of Adhan, Hadith 661.
Regarding the wisdom of facing the worshippers, it is said that the Imam teaches the followers what they need. This is especially for the one who intends to teach and advise like the Prophet (peace be upon him). Another wisdom mentioned is so that it becomes clear that the prayer has been completed. If the Imam remains sitting facing the Qiblah in this state, he may cause confusion that he is still in the Tashahhud.
Zain bin al-Munir states: The Imam facing the followers is a right of the Imamate, so when the prayer is completed, the reason is removed. Thus, by facing the followers, his pride and arrogance over them ends.
Reference: (Fath al-Bari 2/389, 388)
③ Sayyiduna Sahl bin Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) states, I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say:
من كان فى المسجد ينتظر الصلاة فهو فى الصلاة
"Whoever waits for the prayer in the mosque, he is in prayer."
Reference: An-Nasa’i, Book of Mosques, Chapter on Encouragement to Sit in the Mosque and Wait for Prayer.
Imamat and Its Related Commands
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
ثلاثة على كثبان المسك، أراه قال: يوم القيامة، عبد أدى حق الله وحق مواليه، ورجل أم قوما وهم به راضون، ورجل ينادي بالصلوات الخمس فى كل يوم وليلة
"On the Day of Resurrection, there will be three types of people on the mounds of musk: one is the servant who fulfills the rights of Allah and his masters, the second is the man who leads the people in prayer and they are pleased with him, and the third is the man who calls to prayer for the five daily prayers."
Reference: At-Tirmidhi, Book of Virtue, Hadith 1986. Its chain is weak; it includes Abul-Waliqzan Uthman bin Umair Al-Kufi who is weak, afflicted with confusion, practiced deception, and was an extremist Shia. See At-Taqreeb 4507.
