The Sick Person: Is Congregational Prayer Obligatory on Him?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Q: I suffer from a psychological condition and have allergies in my nose and respiratory system. I sometimes feel pain in my head, and I am bothered by all types of air conditioning, including air conditioners and fans. I experience embarrassment when I go to one of the mosques to perform the obligatory prayer with the Muslim congregation, and I feel pain that none but Allah (Mighty and Majestic) knows, caused by the air conditioning units inside the mosque, which causes me pain and prevents me from being humble in prayer. Does my health condition permit me to pray at home? And if praying at home is permitted for me, will I receive the reward of congregational prayer, by the permission of Allah, in accordance with the hadith of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 2996. It was narrated by al-Bukhari ?
A: It is permissible for you to leave the congregation in the mosque while you are ill and while the air conditioning is aggravating your illness.
It is obligatory for you to perform it with the Muslim congregation at times when the cooling devices are not operating. The hadith of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari mentioned in the question is explicit in the fact that the reward is granted to the sick person if his illness prevents him from doing the good deeds he used to do. And Allah the Exalted looks at the hearts of the servants and their deeds, and He knows their secrets and what their breasts conceal.
When a slave falls ill or travels, then he will get reward similar to that he gets for good deeds practiced at home when in good health.
إذا مرض العبد أو سافر كتب له مثل ما كان يعمل مقيمًا صحيحًاA: It is permissible for you to leave the congregation in the mosque while you are ill and while the air conditioning is aggravating your illness.
It is obligatory for you to perform it with the Muslim congregation at times when the cooling devices are not operating. The hadith of Abu Musa al-Ash'ari mentioned in the question is explicit in the fact that the reward is granted to the sick person if his illness prevents him from doing the good deeds he used to do. And Allah the Exalted looks at the hearts of the servants and their deeds, and He knows their secrets and what their breasts conceal.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.