The Interests and Harms for One Upon Whom the Prayer for the Absent One Is Performed, and the Man Was...

The questioner : The issue, O Shaykh, is the interests and harms for one upon whom the prayer for the absent one is performed, and the man was... in the mosque with the worshippers, and he came down to pray for the absent one; so should he pray with them if he fears that this condition will result in harm, or should he leave it? And what are the similar issues?

The Shaykh : This issue varies depending on the afflicted person's view of this reality. Often, the assessment of the matter differs from one person to another, and often the matter differs regarding the possibility of turning this harm into a benefit. If there is a man of knowledge and virtue, and he has a standing in that community where the harm is being established—and in the question mentioned, the harm is the prayer for the absent one, which is not prescribed in these days, because it did not occur from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) at all except once, when he prayed for the Negus; since there was no one there to perform this obligation for him—if a virtuous man attends a gathering where this prayer for the absent one, which is not prescribed, is being performed, and he is able to deliver a word and clarify that this is contrary to the Sunnah, and that this clarification will drive away Satan, and his explanation to the people will benefit them in the time to come; then this has its own significance. But if one is not like this learned, virtuous man whose word is heeded and who has a high standing, but is rather from the general public, and he fears for himself that he may be afflicted with something disliked; then there is no harm in him conforming, in order to avert the greater harm by the lesser.
This is my opinion, and the summary of it is that no general rule is given, but rather every situation has its own discourse, and every country has its men.