Is it permissible for the Committee for Promoting Good and Forbidding Evil to leave one of the workers in the establishment during prayer for the sake of work needs?
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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 : First, I testify to Allah of my love for you, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : May Allah love you as you have loved us, and make us and you all among those whom Allah loves.
The questioner : Amen. The question directed to your eminence is that we ask some restaurant and bakery owners to pray in congregation in the mosque, but they request that one of them remain in the restaurant or bakery. Many imams say to us: Why do you not oblige everyone to attend, and not leave anyone behind to turn off the gas and the bakery’s electric equipment and the regular oven? So we asked some students of knowledge, “What is your opinion in this, so that our conscience is clear?” They said: It is permissible for one person to remain. When we met you and came to your noble city, we wanted to take your opinion?
The Shaykh : What I see is that the matter is broader than that; broader than obliging people to do things that harm them. Perhaps turning off the machines would cause them harm.
The questioner : They said: Do you bear responsibility if a fire occurs? You, the Committee? I said: I do not bear it.
The Shaykh : If that is the case, two of them are left to remain in the place, but the door is closed.
The questioner : Yes, the door is closed on them.
The Shaykh : They remain in the place so that when the rest of their colleagues come, the two pray in congregation, and there is no blame in this.
The questioner : May I ask a second question?
The Shaykh : Fine, after it is done.
The questioner : Fine, may Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : First, I testify to Allah of my love for you, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : May Allah love you as you have loved us, and make us and you all among those whom Allah loves.
The questioner : Amen. The question directed to your eminence is that we ask some restaurant and bakery owners to pray in congregation in the mosque, but they request that one of them remain in the restaurant or bakery. Many imams say to us: Why do you not oblige everyone to attend, and not leave anyone behind to turn off the gas and the bakery’s electric equipment and the regular oven? So we asked some students of knowledge, “What is your opinion in this, so that our conscience is clear?” They said: It is permissible for one person to remain. When we met you and came to your noble city, we wanted to take your opinion?
The Shaykh : What I see is that the matter is broader than that; broader than obliging people to do things that harm them. Perhaps turning off the machines would cause them harm.
The questioner : They said: Do you bear responsibility if a fire occurs? You, the Committee? I said: I do not bear it.
The Shaykh : If that is the case, two of them are left to remain in the place, but the door is closed.
The questioner : Yes, the door is closed on them.
The Shaykh : They remain in the place so that when the rest of their colleagues come, the two pray in congregation, and there is no blame in this.
The questioner : May I ask a second question?
The Shaykh : Fine, after it is done.
The questioner : Fine, may Allah reward you with good.