I work in a job that requires me to stay from after Fajr until after Zuhr, and sometimes until 'Asr, and the workplace is far from the mosque, about (2 km).
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The questioner : He says that he works in a job that requires him to stay from after Fajr until after Zuhr, if not until 'Asr, and the workplace is about two kilometers from the mosque. We can hear the adhan, but the work itself requires us to remain in our place. What is the ruling on praying individually in that place? Is the prayer valid, or is it necessary to attend the congregational prayer at the mosque, O honorable Shaykh?
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for a person to attend the prayer in the mosque with the congregation of Muslims. However, if he is at work, as the questioner said, and it is not possible for him to go to the mosque for prayer, let him pray in congregation in his place with his brothers and colleagues. This is based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:[At-Taghabun 64:16] and His saying: [Al-Hajj 22:78] Let this questioner and whoever heard this answer know that the congregational prayer is obligatory, a fard 'ayn (individual obligation), and that there is a great reward in it. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said regarding it: Sahih Muslim 650a.
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) intended to burn the houses of those who lagged behind. He said:Sunan Abi Dawud 548Sahih (Al-Albani) or he said: . Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. This is an Egyptian saying, O honorable Shaykh.
The Shaykh : It is obligatory for a person to attend the prayer in the mosque with the congregation of Muslims. However, if he is at work, as the questioner said, and it is not possible for him to go to the mosque for prayer, let him pray in congregation in his place with his brothers and colleagues. This is based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
So fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْand has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty
وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍPrayer said in a congregation is twenty-seven degrees more excellent than prayer said by a single person.
صلاة الجماعة أفضل من صلاة الفذ بسبع وعشرين درجةAnd he (peace and blessings be upon him) intended to burn the houses of those who lagged behind. He said:
I thought to give orders for arranging prayer in congregation, and then to have the Iqamah called for it, then to order a man to lead the people in prayer, then to go off in company of the people who have bundles of firewood to those people who are not present at the prayer
لقد هممت أن ءامر بالصلاة فتُقام، ثم ءامر رجلاً فيصلي بالناس، ثم أنطلق معي برجال معهم حزم من حطب إلى قوم لا يشهدون الصلاةwho do not attend the congregation, so I would burn their houses with fire
لا يشهدون الجماعة فأحرّق عليهم بيوتهم بالنارThe questioner : May Allah bless you. This is an Egyptian saying, O honorable Shaykh.