Should he pray at home so that his children will pray with him?

 

There is a mosque near our house where it is possible for us to offer the daily prayers, but I go there to pray Jumu‘ah and some of the daily prayers during the weekend. I have a son who is sixteen years old who does not pay much attention to praying; he only prays after asking him several times, and sometimes he ignores it. My wife's brother also lives with us; he is studying at the University. When I am at home, I try to lead the prayer so that my son and my wife's brother will offer the prayer on time; my wife and my two young daughters also pray with us. 


My question is: 


1. What is the ruling on offering the prayer at home when there is no mosque very close to the house?


2. What is the ruling on offering the prayer at home in congregation instead of going to the mosque to pray, in order to make sure that the family members pray?


3. I know that the parents are responsible for making sure that the children learn religious knowledge and for making sure that they adhere to the rulings of Allah (may He be glorified and exalted). I am wondering whether there is a specific age after which the parents are no longer required to bear this responsibility. 


May Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) guide us all to the straight path, ameen. May Allah reward you with good.

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly: 

Praying in congregation is obligatory for every adult man who
is able to go to the mosque and who hears the call to prayer. 

What is meant by hearing the call is that a person can hear
the adhaan given in a regular voice without amplification of the sound, if
the muezzin raises his voice and there is no wind or other noise that could
affect hearing it. 

This has to do with the five daily prayers in congregation.
With regard to Jumu’ah (Friday prayer), that is a different matter. It is
obligatory for everyone who is in the city or town in which Jumu’ah prayers
are held regularly, whether he can hear the adhaan or not, not matter how
spread out the city is. See also the answer to question no.
89676 

Based on this, if the mosque is so far away that you cannot
hear the call, you are not obliged to go and pray in congregation in the
mosque, and in that case you can pray with your family. 

But if you can hear the call, it is obligatory to pray in
congregation, and it is not permissible for you to forego that in order to
make sure that your family members pray, because this is forsaking an
obligatory duty for something that has to do with others and that can be
achieved by other means, such as following up with them and asking them
after you come back from the mosque. 

Secondly: 

When a boy reaches puberty he becomes accountable, but this
does not mean that the parents are no longer obliged to advise him and
enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, especially if the boy is living
with them. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Ward off yourselves and your families
against a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are
(appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the
Commands they receive from Allaah, but do that which they are commanded”

[al-Tahreem 66:6] 

And the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
said: ““Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his
flock. The ruler of the people is a shepherd and is responsible for his
flock. A man is the shepherd of his household and is responsible for his
flock. A woman is the shepherd of her husband’s house…” Narrated by
al-Bukhaari (853) and Muslim (1829). 

And he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
“There is no person whom Allaah puts in charge of others, and when he dies
he is insincere to his subjects, but Allaah will forbid Paradise to him.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (6731) and Muslim (142). 

Part of this responsibility is that the father should not
bring any evils in the house or allow them if his son brings them in, such
as if he wants to bring indecent satellite channels, for example. In that
case it is the father’s duty to refuse that and resist it, because that is
going on in his house for which he is responsible. But if the son moves to
his own place and does that, then the father’s duty is to offer advice and
reminders with wisdom and beautiful preaching. 

We ask Allah to guide and help us and you. 

And Allah knows best.