Is it permissible to perform the Friday prayer at home if the mosque is far away, or to follow the prayer broadcast on the radio?
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The questioner : Is it permissible to perform the Friday prayer at home if the mosque is far away, or to follow the prayer broadcast via the radio?
The Shaykh : It is not permissible to perform the Friday prayer except with the Muslims in the mosque. However, if the mosque is full and the rows extend into the streets, there is no harm in praying in the streets due to dire necessity. As for a person praying in his home or his shop, it is not permissible and it is not lawful for him to do so, because the purpose of the Friday prayer and the congregation is also that Muslims gather with one another and be one community, so that they develop affection and mercy among themselves, and their ignorant ones learn from their knowledgeable ones. If we were to open the door for everyone and say, "Pray to the radio" or "Pray to the loudspeaker while you are in your home," there would be no benefit to building mosques and attending the prayer. Therefore, it is obligatory for a person to strive to go to the mosques to pray in them with the Muslims.
The questioner : What is the ruling on following the radio in prayer, whether it is the Friday prayer or any other?
The Shaykh : As you have learned, it is not valid and it is not permissible to follow it, because it leads to abandoning the Friday prayer and the congregation in reality if this door is opened.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible to perform the Friday prayer except with the Muslims in the mosque. However, if the mosque is full and the rows extend into the streets, there is no harm in praying in the streets due to dire necessity. As for a person praying in his home or his shop, it is not permissible and it is not lawful for him to do so, because the purpose of the Friday prayer and the congregation is also that Muslims gather with one another and be one community, so that they develop affection and mercy among themselves, and their ignorant ones learn from their knowledgeable ones. If we were to open the door for everyone and say, "Pray to the radio" or "Pray to the loudspeaker while you are in your home," there would be no benefit to building mosques and attending the prayer. Therefore, it is obligatory for a person to strive to go to the mosques to pray in them with the Muslims.
The questioner : What is the ruling on following the radio in prayer, whether it is the Friday prayer or any other?
The Shaykh : As you have learned, it is not valid and it is not permissible to follow it, because it leads to abandoning the Friday prayer and the congregation in reality if this door is opened.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.