What is the distance or criterion that obligates a worshipper to perform the congregational prayer in the mosque?
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The questioner : Excuse me, Shaykh, regarding the distance that obligates the congregational prayer, the distance from the mosque?
The Shaykh : First, this distance is not measured in cubits or kilometers, but rather:. This hearing should be without devices that carry the voice to very long distances; the intention is hearing with the natural ear. Also, the situation should be as it was in the time of the Messenger (peace be upon him), where there were no machines, cars, buses, or similar noise and commotion. All these matters make the issue subject to flexibility and estimation. So, there is no fixed rule that can be said: if you are, for example, one kilometer away, you must respond, and if more, you do not, or less or more. The important thing is that if one hears the call today and has no hardship in going and responding first, and he catches the prayer before it is missed second, then he is the one who must respond to the mu'adhdhin. As for a specific distance that everyone understands, it is not like that.
The questioner : Excuse me, Shaykh, for example, if he is on a mountain, on a peak or a mountain, and the mosque is on a mountain, the distance is close, but the walking distance is far!!
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you, did you understand my answer?
The questioner : I mean, it is obligatory upon him if he hears the call!
The Shaykh : I did not tie the issue to mere hearing; I tied it to matters, including that he catches the prayer. So, when you imagine that he is on the top of a mountain, and there is another mountain top, and the voice is naturally a very close distance, but between descending to reach the slope of the first mountain, then crossing the valley, then climbing to the second mountain, this is a scenario that may occur, but the previous statement I mentioned earlier does not apply to it, because I said: if he is able to. Here I will tell you a final word: Do you think that with his hearing the adhan, there is no hardship for him to descend from the peak of the mountain and climb to the peak of the mountain? You will say he is in hardship.
The Shaykh : First, this distance is not measured in cubits or kilometers, but rather:
Whoever hears the call and does not respond, and has no excuse, then he has no prayer.
مَن سَمِعَ النداء فلم يُجِبْ ولا عذرَ له ؛ فلا صلاة لهThe questioner : Excuse me, Shaykh, for example, if he is on a mountain, on a peak or a mountain, and the mosque is on a mountain, the distance is close, but the walking distance is far!!
The Shaykh : May Allah guide you, did you understand my answer?
The questioner : I mean, it is obligatory upon him if he hears the call!
The Shaykh : I did not tie the issue to mere hearing; I tied it to matters, including that he catches the prayer. So, when you imagine that he is on the top of a mountain, and there is another mountain top, and the voice is naturally a very close distance, but between descending to reach the slope of the first mountain, then crossing the valley, then climbing to the second mountain, this is a scenario that may occur, but the previous statement I mentioned earlier does not apply to it, because I said: if he is able to. Here I will tell you a final word: Do you think that with his hearing the adhan, there is no hardship for him to descend from the peak of the mountain and climb to the peak of the mountain? You will say he is in hardship.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.