What is the ruling on praying outside the mosque during the heat, such as the Maghrib prayer, given that some preachers have stated that it is permissible to pray outside the mosque in certain cases?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : What is the ruling on praying outside the mosque during the heat, such as the Maghrib prayer, given that some preachers have stated that it is permissible to pray outside the mosque in certain cases?
The Shaykh : I do not know this question. Are you asking about praying outside the mosque with the congregation, or praying outside the mosque in your home? If you mean the former, it is not permissible to pray outside the mosque when there is space in the mosque where one can pray. In fact, it is obligatory for him, if he attends the mosque, to enter the mosque and pray with the people inside. This is except if the mosque is full and the people are praying outside, in which case there is no harm. As for if the intention is that he does not attend the mosque and prays in his home, this is not permissible. Whoever issued them a fatwa that it is permissible to pray in their home should reconsider the fatwa he issued, because the heat is general, whether a person prays in his home or in the mosque. The most that can be said is that if he prays in his home and has air conditioning, he is saved from the scorching heat of the street. What a person should do is not let his comfort reach this state, but rather go out to the mosque and endure the heat. The matter is nothing but a few steps between him and the mosque, then he enters the mosque. Generally, and praise be to Allah, mosques are air-conditioned and cool.
Then let it be known that the congregational prayer is not a recommended practice (sunnah) such that it can be said that a person is free from it if he leaves it. Rather, it is obligatory, a fard upon every man, and it is not permissible for him to be absent. Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I have seen us" meaning with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) "and none would be absent from it" meaning from the congregational prayer "except a hypocrite or one with an excuse" or he said: "or a sick person" So it is not permissible to be negligent regarding the congregational prayer in the mosques.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
The Shaykh : I do not know this question. Are you asking about praying outside the mosque with the congregation, or praying outside the mosque in your home? If you mean the former, it is not permissible to pray outside the mosque when there is space in the mosque where one can pray. In fact, it is obligatory for him, if he attends the mosque, to enter the mosque and pray with the people inside. This is except if the mosque is full and the people are praying outside, in which case there is no harm. As for if the intention is that he does not attend the mosque and prays in his home, this is not permissible. Whoever issued them a fatwa that it is permissible to pray in their home should reconsider the fatwa he issued, because the heat is general, whether a person prays in his home or in the mosque. The most that can be said is that if he prays in his home and has air conditioning, he is saved from the scorching heat of the street. What a person should do is not let his comfort reach this state, but rather go out to the mosque and endure the heat. The matter is nothing but a few steps between him and the mosque, then he enters the mosque. Generally, and praise be to Allah, mosques are air-conditioned and cool.
Then let it be known that the congregational prayer is not a recommended practice (sunnah) such that it can be said that a person is free from it if he leaves it. Rather, it is obligatory, a fard upon every man, and it is not permissible for him to be absent. Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "I have seen us" meaning with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) "and none would be absent from it" meaning from the congregational prayer "except a hypocrite or one with an excuse" or he said: "or a sick person" So it is not permissible to be negligent regarding the congregational prayer in the mosques.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.