What is the ruling on a guarantor who does not permit his workers to pray the Friday prayer, and they say that they are guards for the farm?
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The questioner : Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : Some workers are not permitted by their guarantors to pray the Friday prayer on the pretext that they are like guards in the farm, and they said to me: Speak to our guarantors so that they permit us to pray the Friday prayer. What is your opinion, O Shaykh, regarding this?
The Shaykh : If these workers are far from the mosque such that they do not hear the call to prayer except through a loudspeaker, and they are outside the town, then the Friday prayer is not obligatory for them. The workers should be reassured that there is no sin on them in remaining in the farm and praying the midday prayer. It should be pointed out to their guarantor that he should permit them, because in that there is good for him and good for them, and it will please their hearts. Perhaps that will be a cause for advising them when they take up the work, unlike if he pressures them. Many workers request the prayer, the Friday prayer, in order to meet their companions and acquaintances. For this reason, you find them coming to the Friday prayer and sitting in the market talking until the imam arrives. When the imam arrives, they enter the mosque and sit talking in the same mosque while the imam is delivering the sermon. Such behavior indicates that its owner does not want to pray the Friday prayer, but only wants to gather with his companions and acquaintances. Allah knows best the intentions, and the matter revolves around what was mentioned before: if they hear the call to prayer except through a loudspeaker and they are in the town, let them attend. If they are outside the town, there is nothing upon them.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : Some workers are not permitted by their guarantors to pray the Friday prayer on the pretext that they are like guards in the farm, and they said to me: Speak to our guarantors so that they permit us to pray the Friday prayer. What is your opinion, O Shaykh, regarding this?
The Shaykh : If these workers are far from the mosque such that they do not hear the call to prayer except through a loudspeaker, and they are outside the town, then the Friday prayer is not obligatory for them. The workers should be reassured that there is no sin on them in remaining in the farm and praying the midday prayer. It should be pointed out to their guarantor that he should permit them, because in that there is good for him and good for them, and it will please their hearts. Perhaps that will be a cause for advising them when they take up the work, unlike if he pressures them. Many workers request the prayer, the Friday prayer, in order to meet their companions and acquaintances. For this reason, you find them coming to the Friday prayer and sitting in the market talking until the imam arrives. When the imam arrives, they enter the mosque and sit talking in the same mosque while the imam is delivering the sermon. Such behavior indicates that its owner does not want to pray the Friday prayer, but only wants to gather with his companions and acquaintances. Allah knows best the intentions, and the matter revolves around what was mentioned before: if they hear the call to prayer except through a loudspeaker and they are in the town, let them attend. If they are outside the town, there is nothing upon them.