If a person misses the prayer in the mosque, should he go to the mosque and pray alone, or should he pray in congregation at home?
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you. If a person misses the prayer for one reason or another, such as being in labor, and he misses the congregation, should he go to the mosque and pray... but if there is more than one person, or should he pray at home?
The Shaykh : As for if he is alone and he hopes to find a congregation in the mosque, let him go to the mosque. But if he has others with him, let him pray in his home, especially if he is someone who is followed, because if he went to the mosque with a group and he is someone who is followed, he would be accused; he would be accused of laziness or accused of believing that the congregation is not obligatory. For this reason, it is reported from 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that he and his companions came to the mosque and found that they had already prayed, so he returned and prayed in his home to avert the harm he feared.
The Shaykh : As for if he is alone and he hopes to find a congregation in the mosque, let him go to the mosque. But if he has others with him, let him pray in his home, especially if he is someone who is followed, because if he went to the mosque with a group and he is someone who is followed, he would be accused; he would be accused of laziness or accused of believing that the congregation is not obligatory. For this reason, it is reported from 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that he and his companions came to the mosque and found that they had already prayed, so he returned and prayed in his home to avert the harm he feared.