Is a garbage collector excused from attending the congregational prayer because of his foul smell?
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The questioner : Is a garbage collector excused from attending the congregational prayer because the smell of his clothes harms the angels?
The Shaykh : In my opinion, and in my jurisprudence, this is the first time I have heard such a question. It is not permissible to say that he is absolutely excused, or that he is absolutely not excused. Because in reality, such questions arise in the era of all public services and all jobs that are necessary for society to remain clean and protected from diseases and ailments, and the like. In these jobs, the rulings of the Shari'ah are not observed. This is like if it were asked: Is a bus driver, for example, or a state employee, or a train driver, or the like, excused from the obligation of attending the congregational prayer? We do not say that he is excused or that he is not excused. Rather, the situation must be studied. There are matters that an individual can address to remedy the deficiency that may arise from his work. As for the question directed at the garbage collector, it can be said to him: You must take off your clothes and put on clean clothes when you want to attend the prayer. If you find it difficult to change your clothes, you may be permitted to combine the two prayers. However, if there is no difficulty, he must wear clean clothes for every prayer. This is regarding the individual. As for the one who drives a train, for example, where there is no general Islamic system that stops the train where the adhan is called, or stops the bus in the middle of the road, or the like, if there is no such system... then we tell him two things: one is temporary, and the other is permanent. The temporary one is: as long as you are asking this question and you are an employee, you may continue your journey while intending to combine the two prayers, in case you are unable to perform the prayer in its time with the congregation or alone. This is the temporary answer. As for the permanent answer, it is that he should look for a job in which he is able to fulfill his religious obligations. Is that clear?
The questioner : Yes, it is clear. May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : And you. O Allah, give me some water, Abu 'Abd al-Rahman.
The Shaykh : In my opinion, and in my jurisprudence, this is the first time I have heard such a question. It is not permissible to say that he is absolutely excused, or that he is absolutely not excused. Because in reality, such questions arise in the era of all public services and all jobs that are necessary for society to remain clean and protected from diseases and ailments, and the like. In these jobs, the rulings of the Shari'ah are not observed. This is like if it were asked: Is a bus driver, for example, or a state employee, or a train driver, or the like, excused from the obligation of attending the congregational prayer? We do not say that he is excused or that he is not excused. Rather, the situation must be studied. There are matters that an individual can address to remedy the deficiency that may arise from his work. As for the question directed at the garbage collector, it can be said to him: You must take off your clothes and put on clean clothes when you want to attend the prayer. If you find it difficult to change your clothes, you may be permitted to combine the two prayers. However, if there is no difficulty, he must wear clean clothes for every prayer. This is regarding the individual. As for the one who drives a train, for example, where there is no general Islamic system that stops the train where the adhan is called, or stops the bus in the middle of the road, or the like, if there is no such system... then we tell him two things: one is temporary, and the other is permanent. The temporary one is: as long as you are asking this question and you are an employee, you may continue your journey while intending to combine the two prayers, in case you are unable to perform the prayer in its time with the congregation or alone. This is the temporary answer. As for the permanent answer, it is that he should look for a job in which he is able to fulfill his religious obligations. Is that clear?
The questioner : Yes, it is clear. May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : And you. O Allah, give me some water, Abu 'Abd al-Rahman.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.