The Ruling on Prisoners Praying Behind an Imam While They Are in Their Cells
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Q: From 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Baz to the Honorable Brother, the Director of the Department of Religious Affairs at the General Security... May Allah guide him. Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings. As for what follows:
I refer to your letter number 275/D, dated 1/5/1405 AH, and its attachment, in which you inquire about the ruling on prisoners praying Jumu'ah and congregational prayers behind a single imam who leads them while they are in their cells via a loudspeaker?
A: Given that the issue is general and important, I decided to present it to the Council of Senior Scholars. The Council reviewed it during its twenty-sixth session, held in Ta'if from 25/10/1405 AH to 7/11/1405 AH. After studying the issue and reviewing the opinions of scholars on the matter, the Council issued a fatwa not approving the gathering of prisoners behind a single imam for the Jumu'ah and congregational prayers while they are inside the prison cells, following him via a loudspeaker. This is because the Jumu'ah prayer is not obligatory upon them, as they are unable to travel to it, and in agreement with the fatwa of His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him), number 762, dated 11/10/1388 AH, which states that it is not obligatory to establish it in prison, and for other reasons.
Whoever is able to attend to perform the Jumu'ah prayer in the prison mosque, if there is a mosque in the prison where the Jumu'ah prayer is established, should pray it with the congregation. Otherwise, it is dropped from him, and he should pray it as Zuhr. Each group should pray the five daily prayers in congregation inside their cell if it is not possible to gather them in a mosque or a single place.
I hope you will review and take note of this. Attached is your aforementioned letter and its attachments. I ask Allah to guide everyone to what pleases Him.
And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The General President
of the Departments of Scientific Research
and Ifta, Da'wah, and Guidance
I refer to your letter number 275/D, dated 1/5/1405 AH, and its attachment, in which you inquire about the ruling on prisoners praying Jumu'ah and congregational prayers behind a single imam who leads them while they are in their cells via a loudspeaker?
A: Given that the issue is general and important, I decided to present it to the Council of Senior Scholars. The Council reviewed it during its twenty-sixth session, held in Ta'if from 25/10/1405 AH to 7/11/1405 AH. After studying the issue and reviewing the opinions of scholars on the matter, the Council issued a fatwa not approving the gathering of prisoners behind a single imam for the Jumu'ah and congregational prayers while they are inside the prison cells, following him via a loudspeaker. This is because the Jumu'ah prayer is not obligatory upon them, as they are unable to travel to it, and in agreement with the fatwa of His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him), number 762, dated 11/10/1388 AH, which states that it is not obligatory to establish it in prison, and for other reasons.
Whoever is able to attend to perform the Jumu'ah prayer in the prison mosque, if there is a mosque in the prison where the Jumu'ah prayer is established, should pray it with the congregation. Otherwise, it is dropped from him, and he should pray it as Zuhr. Each group should pray the five daily prayers in congregation inside their cell if it is not possible to gather them in a mosque or a single place.
I hope you will review and take note of this. Attached is your aforementioned letter and its attachments. I ask Allah to guide everyone to what pleases Him.
And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The General President
of the Departments of Scientific Research
and Ifta, Da'wah, and Guidance
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.