What should one do if he swears not to pray behind a certain imam?
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Question:
The listener Muhammad Abdul Rahman al-Mahi says: A discussion took place between me and my uncle, who used to lead us in prayer. I swore by Allah that I would not pray behind him. During the days of Ramadan, I stepped forward to lead the prayer, and when I began the takbir, he told me to go back to the row. I went back and prayed alone near the row because I had sworn by Allah. Is what I did permissible? May Allah reward you with good. What is the ruling if I do not want to pray behind him?
Answer:
It is obligatory for you to pray in congregation and not to pray alone. You must pay the expiation for the oath. You must expiate your oath by feeding ten poor people, or clothing them, or freeing a slave. As for praying alone, this is not permissible. Congregational prayer is obligatory for you and for other Muslims in the mosques of Allah, with your brothers. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Bulugh al-Maram 2:308.
A blind man came to him and said: O Messenger of Allah! I have no guide to lead me to the mosque. Do I have a dispensation to pray in my house? The Chosen One (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him:Sahih Muslim 653? He said: Yes. He said: .
If it is obligatory for a blind man to respond, how much more so for others! He does not even have a guide; rather, he needs to ask people to lead him. So fear Allah and beware. Repent to Allah for what you did, expiate your oath, pray with the people, follow the imam, and seek forgiveness from your Lord for what you did previously. Repent to Him. You must pay the expiation for the oath, which is feeding ten poor people, or clothing them. Each person receives half a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of dates, or rice, or the staple food of your country. Half a sa' is one and a half kilograms of the staple food of your country, or a garment that suffices for prayer, such as an izar and a rida, or a shirt. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
The listener Muhammad Abdul Rahman al-Mahi says: A discussion took place between me and my uncle, who used to lead us in prayer. I swore by Allah that I would not pray behind him. During the days of Ramadan, I stepped forward to lead the prayer, and when I began the takbir, he told me to go back to the row. I went back and prayed alone near the row because I had sworn by Allah. Is what I did permissible? May Allah reward you with good. What is the ruling if I do not want to pray behind him?
Answer:
It is obligatory for you to pray in congregation and not to pray alone. You must pay the expiation for the oath. You must expiate your oath by feeding ten poor people, or clothing them, or freeing a slave. As for praying alone, this is not permissible. Congregational prayer is obligatory for you and for other Muslims in the mosques of Allah, with your brothers. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Whoever hears the call for prayer and and does not come (to the mosque for prayer), his prayer will not be accepted from him, unless he has a (legitimate) excuse.
من سمع النداء فلم يأت؛ فلا صلاة له إلا من عذرA blind man came to him and said: O Messenger of Allah! I have no guide to lead me to the mosque. Do I have a dispensation to pray in my house? The Chosen One (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him:
Do you hear the call to prayer?
هل تسمع النداء بالصلاةThen respond.
فأجبIf it is obligatory for a blind man to respond, how much more so for others! He does not even have a guide; rather, he needs to ask people to lead him. So fear Allah and beware. Repent to Allah for what you did, expiate your oath, pray with the people, follow the imam, and seek forgiveness from your Lord for what you did previously. Repent to Him. You must pay the expiation for the oath, which is feeding ten poor people, or clothing them. Each person receives half a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of dates, or rice, or the staple food of your country. Half a sa' is one and a half kilograms of the staple food of your country, or a garment that suffices for prayer, such as an izar and a rida, or a shirt. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.