An imam residing in a neighborhood where most residents are non-Saudis and whose school of jurisprudence does not consider congregational prayer obligatory: are they obligated to perform it?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
Your Eminence, the imam of one of the mosques in a neighborhood where most of the residents are non-Saudis is asking and saying: Do we oblige them to perform congregational prayer, given that the school of jurisprudence they follow states that praying in congregation is a recommended practice? Do we oblige them and compel them to do so, and should the competent authorities be informed about this?
The Shaykh : I think you should inform the competent authorities about this, because if we let the reins hang loose and say that everyone should do what they consider to be their school of jurisprudence, the situation would become chaotic. Someone would come and say, “I want my wife to uncover her face in the market because my school of jurisprudence does not consider covering the face obligatory.” Someone else would come and say, “I want my wife to travel without a mahram because our school of jurisprudence holds that a mahram is not obligatory.” And someone would declare that they smoke and say, “Smoking is not forbidden according to some scholars.” So I think the matter should be referred to the authorities, and the authorities should fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in how they deal with these people who are lagging behind in prayer. Yes, it is permissible.
Your Eminence, the imam of one of the mosques in a neighborhood where most of the residents are non-Saudis is asking and saying: Do we oblige them to perform congregational prayer, given that the school of jurisprudence they follow states that praying in congregation is a recommended practice? Do we oblige them and compel them to do so, and should the competent authorities be informed about this?
The Shaykh : I think you should inform the competent authorities about this, because if we let the reins hang loose and say that everyone should do what they consider to be their school of jurisprudence, the situation would become chaotic. Someone would come and say, “I want my wife to uncover her face in the market because my school of jurisprudence does not consider covering the face obligatory.” Someone else would come and say, “I want my wife to travel without a mahram because our school of jurisprudence holds that a mahram is not obligatory.” And someone would declare that they smoke and say, “Smoking is not forbidden according to some scholars.” So I think the matter should be referred to the authorities, and the authorities should fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in how they deal with these people who are lagging behind in prayer. Yes, it is permissible.