Hadith 300

Sahih Muslim

Book 5: The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer

Chapter 41

It is disliked to delay the prayers beyond their proper times, and what a person should do if the Imam delays the prayer

باب كَرَاهِيَةِ تَأْخِيرِ الصَّلاَةِ عَنْ وَقْتِهَا الْمُخْتَارِ وَمَا يَفْعَلُهُ الْمَأْمُومُ إِذَا أَخَّرَهَا الإِمَامُ

Sahih Muslim 648c
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي عِمْرَانَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ إِنَّ خَلِيلِي أَوْصَانِي أَنْ أَسْمَعَ وَأُطِيعَ وَإِنْ كَانَ عَبْدًا مُجَدَّعَ الأَطْرَافِ وَأَنْ أُصَلِّيَ الصَّلاَةَ لِوَقْتِهَا ‏ ‏ ‏.‏
"‏ فَإِنْ أَدْرَكْتَ الْقَوْمَ وَقَدْ صَلَّوْا كُنْتَ قَدْ أَحْرَزْتَ صَلاَتَكَ وَإِلاَّ كَانَتْ لَكَ نَافِلَةً ‏"
Abu Dharr reported:

My friend (the Holy Prophet) bade me to hear and obey (the ruler) even if he is a slave having his feet and arms cut off, and observe prayer at its prescribed time. (And further said): It you find people having observed the prayer, you in fact saved your prayer, otherwise (if you join with them) that would be a Nafl prayer for you.