We are in a desert area and are about sixty kilometers from the nearest village, and it is difficult for us to go there for the Friday prayer due to the lack of transportation. Is it permissible?
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The questioner : Noble Shaykh, we are in a desert area and are about sixty kilometers from the nearest village, and it is difficult for us to go there for the Friday prayer due to the lack of transportation. Is it permissible for us to hold the Friday prayer in our desert area, especially since we are about twenty people?
The Shaykh : Friday prayers are not held in the desert areas, because the Friday prayer is only established in inhabited cities and villages. As for the desert, Allah the Exalted has lifted the Friday prayer from them, so they pray the midday prayer in its place. The Bedouins in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were residing around Madinah in their locations, and yet the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not order them to hold the Friday prayer, because the Friday prayer must be in inhabited villages or cities.
The Shaykh : Friday prayers are not held in the desert areas, because the Friday prayer is only established in inhabited cities and villages. As for the desert, Allah the Exalted has lifted the Friday prayer from them, so they pray the midday prayer in its place. The Bedouins in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were residing around Madinah in their locations, and yet the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not order them to hold the Friday prayer, because the Friday prayer must be in inhabited villages or cities.