I am a man who consistently attends the congregational prayer in the mosque, but now my eyesight no longer allows me to leave the house.

The questioner : He says that he is a person from Sudan who used to consistently attend the congregational prayer in the mosque, but now he says his eyesight no longer allows him to leave the house, and his health is the same. He is now over eighty-two years old, and the mosque is seven minutes away from his house on foot. What is the ruling of the Shari'ah in your view regarding my situation? I hope for your guidance.

The Shaykh : The congregational prayer is obligatory for men, and it is obligatory to perform it in the mosques with the Muslims, except for a valid excuse. If going to the mosque is difficult and tiring for this questioner, there is no blame on him for missing the congregational prayer, and he receives the full reward. This is because it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: As for if it is not difficult for him, then he must go to the mosque and pray with the congregation of Muslims, because seven minutes is not a long distance. However, he knows his own condition; if it is difficult for him in a way that is not bearable, then he is excused in this, and he receives the full reward, given that he used to pray with the congregation when he was in a state of strength.

The questioner : May Allah bless you.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : The listener is from the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abd al-Fattah.