Excuses for Missing the Congregational Prayer
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The first question of Fatwa No. ( 4324 )
Q1: What are the legitimate excuses for missing the congregational prayer, and is it permissible for a student whose exam date is approaching, who fears that his time is tight and that his mind will be distracted, and who needs to connect the study topics, to not adhere to the congregation in the five obligatory prayers?
A: Among the excuses that permit a man to miss the congregational prayer in the mosque are severe illness that makes it difficult to go to the mosque, and the fear that if he prays in the mosque, someone lying in wait for him on his way to the mosque or in the mosque will kill him, or arrest him and imprison him unjustly and oppressively. It also includes nursing a person who would die or be injured if he were left to pray in congregation. These are examples of such excuses. However, a student’s tight schedule due to congregational prayer, his fear of mental distraction, and his inability to study and connect academic information are not among the excuses. Time is ample, the study period lasts months, and the time required to perform the five prayers in congregation in the mosque is short compared to those months. The tightness of time is due to his negligence in performing the obligation at its proper time and delaying it until the exam is near, not due to performing the obligation of prayer in congregation. Performing prayer in congregation in the mosque is among the greatest
and highest forms of mindfulness of Allah. And Allah the Exalted said:[At-Talaq 65:2-3] And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q1: What are the legitimate excuses for missing the congregational prayer, and is it permissible for a student whose exam date is approaching, who fears that his time is tight and that his mind will be distracted, and who needs to connect the study topics, to not adhere to the congregation in the five obligatory prayers?
A: Among the excuses that permit a man to miss the congregational prayer in the mosque are severe illness that makes it difficult to go to the mosque, and the fear that if he prays in the mosque, someone lying in wait for him on his way to the mosque or in the mosque will kill him, or arrest him and imprison him unjustly and oppressively. It also includes nursing a person who would die or be injured if he were left to pray in congregation. These are examples of such excuses. However, a student’s tight schedule due to congregational prayer, his fear of mental distraction, and his inability to study and connect academic information are not among the excuses. Time is ample, the study period lasts months, and the time required to perform the five prayers in congregation in the mosque is short compared to those months. The tightness of time is due to his negligence in performing the obligation at its proper time and delaying it until the exam is near, not due to performing the obligation of prayer in congregation. Performing prayer in congregation in the mosque is among the greatest
and highest forms of mindfulness of Allah. And Allah the Exalted said:
And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out (3) And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.
وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا (2) وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لاَ يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.