If a person says, "I am bound by a school of jurisprudence," is he obligated to follow the stronger position? For example, someone who says, "I pray at home and do not pray in the mosque because that is my school of jurisprudence"?

The questioner : If a person says, "I am bound by this school of jurisprudence," is he obligated to follow the stronger position?

The Shaykh : No, if he says, "I am committed to this school of jurisprudence," he proceeds according to its rules; it is not the case that the school of jurisprudence is the school of jurisprudence.

The questioner : I mean, some people say, "I do not pray with the congregation; I pray at home. This is our school of jurisprudence." Is he obligated to pray with the congregation?

The Shaykh : I mean, you did not understand your own question. I understood you to say that whether he follows a school of jurisprudence or not, he must take the stronger position from that school of jurisprudence.

The questioner : No, no, my intention is that he should pray in congregation; the stronger position is that it is obligatory in the mosque.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : But some people say, "The school of jurisprudence holds that it is obligatory, but at home, so I pray at home."

The Shaykh : In any case, the disagreement on this is well known.

The questioner : But is he obligated to pray?