What is the meaning of the hadith: “Whoever hears the call to prayer and does not respond, there is no prayer for him except for one who has an excuse”?
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The questioner : What is the meaning of the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Ibn Hibban 10:352?
The Shaykh : Its meaning is that when a person hears the call, meaning the adhan, it is obligatory for him to attend the mosque, and it is not permissible for him to be absent except for an excuse. If he is absent from the mosque without an excuse and prays alone in his house, then he has no prayer, unless he is excused. This is because he left off the congregation, which is obligatory in the prayer.
The rule is: whoever leaves off an obligatory act in worship without an excuse, his worship is not valid because he left off what is obligatory in it.
The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed on the case where a congregation is established in a place other than the mosque, while the call to prayer and the establishment of the congregation in the mosque are heard. That is, if a group prays in a place other than the mosque while there are people praying in the mosque, the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed on whether it is permissible for them to do so or not permissible.
Some of them said: It is permissible, because the objective is to establish the congregation in any place. And some of them said: It is not permissible, rather the congregation must be prayed in the mosques, except for one who has an excuse. This opinion is closer to the truth than the first opinion. Accordingly, it is obligatory for whoever hears the call to respond and to pray in the mosque, and it is not permissible for him to be absent from attending, even if he is praying in congregation with his companions and colleagues.
Yes, if attending the mosque would result in harm, such as if there is a department where, if people left their offices to go to the mosque, the work would be disrupted and chaos would ensue. Perhaps one who leaves his work would not return, or would return late. Perhaps some people would leave with the intention of praying, as it appears to people, but they would go to their homes. Then, when they think the people have finished the prayer, they would come to the office. In this case, they may have a dispensation to pray in the same place where they work, due to the things that disrupt work if they leave their place of work.
The questioner : Thank you, esteemed Shaykh, for your kindness in answering the listeners' questions.
Whoever hears the call and does not respond, he has no prayer, except one who has an excuse.
من سمع النداء فلم يجب فلا صلاة له إلا من عذرThe Shaykh : Its meaning is that when a person hears the call, meaning the adhan, it is obligatory for him to attend the mosque, and it is not permissible for him to be absent except for an excuse. If he is absent from the mosque without an excuse and prays alone in his house, then he has no prayer, unless he is excused. This is because he left off the congregation, which is obligatory in the prayer.
The rule is: whoever leaves off an obligatory act in worship without an excuse, his worship is not valid because he left off what is obligatory in it.
The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed on the case where a congregation is established in a place other than the mosque, while the call to prayer and the establishment of the congregation in the mosque are heard. That is, if a group prays in a place other than the mosque while there are people praying in the mosque, the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed on whether it is permissible for them to do so or not permissible.
Some of them said: It is permissible, because the objective is to establish the congregation in any place. And some of them said: It is not permissible, rather the congregation must be prayed in the mosques, except for one who has an excuse. This opinion is closer to the truth than the first opinion. Accordingly, it is obligatory for whoever hears the call to respond and to pray in the mosque, and it is not permissible for him to be absent from attending, even if he is praying in congregation with his companions and colleagues.
Yes, if attending the mosque would result in harm, such as if there is a department where, if people left their offices to go to the mosque, the work would be disrupted and chaos would ensue. Perhaps one who leaves his work would not return, or would return late. Perhaps some people would leave with the intention of praying, as it appears to people, but they would go to their homes. Then, when they think the people have finished the prayer, they would come to the office. In this case, they may have a dispensation to pray in the same place where they work, due to the things that disrupt work if they leave their place of work.
The questioner : Thank you, esteemed Shaykh, for your kindness in answering the listeners' questions.