The Obligation of Friday Prayer and Congregational Prayer on the Elderly
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The third question of Fatwa No. ( 1776 )
Q3: My father is an elderly man who is deficient in hearing and sight. Is Friday prayer and congregational prayer obligatory upon him, knowing that he prays alone?
A3: Allah the Exalted commanded the believers to establish Friday prayer and made it obligatory upon them, and He prohibited them from being preoccupied with it by selling or buying or anything else. He said, the Exalted:
[Al-Jumu'ah 62:9] It is also established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he threatened those who missed it without an excuse that Allah would seal their hearts. He said, (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 865 Narrated by Muslim . The Ummah agreed on its obligation. Allah the Exalted made it obligatory to perform the five prescribed prayers in congregation. He said, the Exalted, regarding the prayer of fear: [An-Nisa 4:102] If it were not obligatory, a dispensation would have been granted for it in a state of fear, and it would not have been permissible to neglect some of the obligations of the prayer for its sake. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Riyad as-Salihin 1068 Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim, and it is also established
Mishkat al-Masabih 1054 Narrated by Muslim . So if your father is as you described, and he finds in himself the strength to attend the mosque and finds a guide, it is obligatory for him to go there for Friday prayer and to perform the five prayers in congregation. If he is weak due to old age or the lack of a guide, a dispensation is granted to him to miss Friday prayer and congregational prayer, and he prays in his home; based on His saying, the Exalted: [At-Taghabun 64:16]. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q3: My father is an elderly man who is deficient in hearing and sight. Is Friday prayer and congregational prayer obligatory upon him, knowing that he prays alone?
A3: Allah the Exalted commanded the believers to establish Friday prayer and made it obligatory upon them, and He prohibited them from being preoccupied with it by selling or buying or anything else. He said, the Exalted:
O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَPeople must cease to neglect the Friday prayer or Allah will seal their hearts and then they will be among the negligent.
لينتهين أقوام عن ودعهم الجمعات أو ليختمن الله على قلوبهم ثم ليكونن من الغافلينAnd when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack
وَإِذَا كُنْتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلاَةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا فَلْيَكُونُوا مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَائِفَةٌ أُخْرَى لَمْ يُصَلُّوا فَلْيُصَلُّوا مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ وَدَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ مَيْلَةً وَاحِدَةًBy Him in Whose Hand my life is, I sometimes thought of giving orders for firewood to be collected, then for proclaiming the Adhan for Salat. Then I would appoint an Imam to lead Salat, and then go to the houses of those who do not come to perform Salat in congregation, and set fire to their houses on them.
والذي نفسي بيده لقد هممت أن آمر بحطب فيحتطب ثم آمر بالصلاة فيؤذن لها ثم آمر رجلا فيؤم الناس ثم أخالف إلى قوم لا يشهدون الصلاة فأحرق عليهم بيوتهمa blind man coming to the Prophet and saying, “Messenger of God, I have no one to guide me to the mosque.” He therefore asked God’s Messenger for licence to pray at home, and he granted it; then when the man turned away he called him and asked, “Can you hear the call to prayer?” On receiving the reply that he could, he said, “Well, respond to it.”
أن رجلاً أعمى أتى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: يا رسول الله: ليس لي قائد يقودني إلى المسجد، فسأله أن يرخص له أن يصلي في بيته، فرخص له، فلما ولى دعاه فقال: هل تسمع النداء بالصلاة؟ فقال: نعم، قال: فأجبSo fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.