Ruling on searching for a mosque in order to combine two prayers
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We know that a while back, it rained, and the imams of the mosques differed. Some saw combining the prayers because the situation called for it, while others did not. So what is your ruling on a person who comes to a mosque, for example, and this imam does not see that the rain permits combining, so this ma'mum goes and searches for another mosque until he finds one where they are combining? He prayed the 'Asr prayer, so he prayed Maghrib with one imam and 'Isha' with another imam. What is your ruling on that? Knowing that the first imam did not see any valid reason for combining, as there was no rain, no mud, no cold, or anything else?
I see that this resembles the one who travels during Ramadan in order to break his fast.And the scholars said: If one travels during Ramadan in order to break his fast, the travel and breaking the fast are forbidden for him. Because this man now did not go for the sake of the dispensation. Perhaps his fatigue in going from his neighborhood mosque to the second mosque is greater than his fatigue if he had waited for the 'Isha' prayer. But he wants to get rid of the prayer.So it is as if he is saying: "Relieve us from the prayer."And he does not say: "Relieve us by the prayer." I see that this, if his prayer is not invalid, is closer to invalidity than to validity. Because he went to the mosque that combines for the sake of ease. He only went to get rid of it. Otherwise, it is well known that ease is achieved if he comes to his mosque at the time of prayer, given its proximity, which is better and easier for him. So I am in doubt about the validity of his prayer.
And my advice to the Muslims: Let them fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and let them know that Allah made prayer obligatory and established it as a prescribed obligation at a specific time. It is not permissible for a person to bring his prayer forward of its time, and if he brings it forward, it will not be accepted from him, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Whoever does an action that is not in accordance with our command, it is rejected" unless there is a valid religious excuse, in which case there is no harm.
Then we say to this man: Go now to your house, and when the 'Isha' adhan is called, if you have the ability to attend the mosque, attend. And if it is raining and it causes you hardship, pray in your house. You will have the full reward of the congregation, because you missed it for an excuse.And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Whoever is sick or travels, it is written for him what he used to do while healthy and resident).
I see that this resembles the one who travels during Ramadan in order to break his fast.And the scholars said: If one travels during Ramadan in order to break his fast, the travel and breaking the fast are forbidden for him. Because this man now did not go for the sake of the dispensation. Perhaps his fatigue in going from his neighborhood mosque to the second mosque is greater than his fatigue if he had waited for the 'Isha' prayer. But he wants to get rid of the prayer.So it is as if he is saying: "Relieve us from the prayer."And he does not say: "Relieve us by the prayer." I see that this, if his prayer is not invalid, is closer to invalidity than to validity. Because he went to the mosque that combines for the sake of ease. He only went to get rid of it. Otherwise, it is well known that ease is achieved if he comes to his mosque at the time of prayer, given its proximity, which is better and easier for him. So I am in doubt about the validity of his prayer.
And my advice to the Muslims: Let them fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and let them know that Allah made prayer obligatory and established it as a prescribed obligation at a specific time. It is not permissible for a person to bring his prayer forward of its time, and if he brings it forward, it will not be accepted from him, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Whoever does an action that is not in accordance with our command, it is rejected" unless there is a valid religious excuse, in which case there is no harm.
Then we say to this man: Go now to your house, and when the 'Isha' adhan is called, if you have the ability to attend the mosque, attend. And if it is raining and it causes you hardship, pray in your house. You will have the full reward of the congregation, because you missed it for an excuse.And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Whoever is sick or travels, it is written for him what he used to do while healthy and resident).