What is the ruling on one who specifically seeks out the mosque where the imam combines Maghrib and 'Isha' due to rain, while leaving the mosques that do not combine, in the absence of rain or
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : We know that a while ago it rained, and the imams, or the imams of the mosques, differed; some held that the situation called for combining the prayers, while others did not. What is your opinion regarding a person who came to a mosque, for example, where the imam did not consider the weather or rain to justify combining the prayers, so this worshipper, or this follower, went to another mosque or searched for another mosque until he found one where they were combining, and he prayed the 'Isha' prayer, thus praying the combined prayer in two mosques with two imams? What is your opinion on that? Given that the first imam did not see any justification for combining, as there was no rain, no mud, no cold, or anything else?
The Shaykh : I see that this resembles the person who travels during Ramadan in order to break his fast. The scholars said: If a person travels during Ramadan in order to break his fast, it is forbidden for him to travel and break his fast, because this man is not going there seeking the dispensation. Perhaps his effort in going from his neighborhood mosque to the second mosque is greater than his effort if he attended the 'Isha' prayer. But he wants to get rid of the prayer, so it is as if he is saying: "Relieve us from the prayer," not "Relieve us with the prayer." I see that a person like this, if his prayer is not invalid, is closer to invalidity than to validity, because he did not go to the mosque that combines for the sake of ease, but rather for the sake of getting rid of it. Otherwise, it is well known that ease is found if he comes to his own mosque at the time of prayer, given its proximity, which is better and easier for him. So I am in doubt about the validity of his prayer.
And my advice to Muslims is: to fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and to know that Allah made prayer obligatory and established it as a fixed obligation at a specific time. It is not permissible for a person to bring the prayer forward of its time, and if he brings it forward, it will not be accepted from him, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1718b unless there is a legitimate religious excuse, in which case there is no harm.
Then we say to this man: Go now to your house, and when the 'Isha' adhan is called, if you are able to attend the mosque, attend. And if it is raining and it causes you hardship, pray in your house, and you will have the reward of the congregation. You will have the full reward of the congregation, because you missed it for an excuse. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The Shaykh : I see that this resembles the person who travels during Ramadan in order to break his fast. The scholars said: If a person travels during Ramadan in order to break his fast, it is forbidden for him to travel and break his fast, because this man is not going there seeking the dispensation. Perhaps his effort in going from his neighborhood mosque to the second mosque is greater than his effort if he attended the 'Isha' prayer. But he wants to get rid of the prayer, so it is as if he is saying: "Relieve us from the prayer," not "Relieve us with the prayer." I see that a person like this, if his prayer is not invalid, is closer to invalidity than to validity, because he did not go to the mosque that combines for the sake of ease, but rather for the sake of getting rid of it. Otherwise, it is well known that ease is found if he comes to his own mosque at the time of prayer, given its proximity, which is better and easier for him. So I am in doubt about the validity of his prayer.
And my advice to Muslims is: to fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and to know that Allah made prayer obligatory and established it as a fixed obligation at a specific time. It is not permissible for a person to bring the prayer forward of its time, and if he brings it forward, it will not be accepted from him, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
He who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملاً ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردThen we say to this man: Go now to your house, and when the 'Isha' adhan is called, if you are able to attend the mosque, attend. And if it is raining and it causes you hardship, pray in your house, and you will have the reward of the congregation. You will have the full reward of the congregation, because you missed it for an excuse. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: