The Ruling on Establishing the Friday Prayer in Prisons
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Question:
You know that prisons contain a large group of young men, whom Allah willed to enter this desolate place—may Allah protect us and you from its evil. But the problem is that one of the brothers who entered Al-Udood prison told me that prayer is not established there, and the police do not order the prisoners to pray. Also, the Friday prayer is not established there, even though their number is large, and about 1% of them pray.
So my question is: Why is there no order from the Ministry of Interior to generalize this to all prisons in the Kingdom, ordering prayer and punishing those who do not pray?
Answer:
There is a need to look into the truth of this report. The da'is (preachers) still visit prisons here, and in the western and eastern regions. The da'is contact them from time to time, guiding them and teaching them. We have not been informed of what the writer mentioned regarding them. However, if Allah wills, we will look into the matter and verify it. If there is something of this, then it is necessary to pay attention to the matter of the prisoners and direct them to good, whether in terms of congregational prayer or the Friday prayer, if possible.
And if it is not possible, then they are excused. The prisoner is excused from the Friday prayer, unless it is facilitated to establish it among them. This is a different matter, and the scholars have been asked about it and have ruled that the prisoner is not obligated to perform the Friday prayer unless it is facilitated to establish it and the Friday prayer is held around him and he can attend it, or it is held in the prison and he can attend it. This is possible if it can be done, but many prisoners cannot attend it because they are in a specific place, and there is fear of evil or escape from their movement.
So the conclusion : That this is a matter for consideration regarding the Friday prayer.
You know that prisons contain a large group of young men, whom Allah willed to enter this desolate place—may Allah protect us and you from its evil. But the problem is that one of the brothers who entered Al-Udood prison told me that prayer is not established there, and the police do not order the prisoners to pray. Also, the Friday prayer is not established there, even though their number is large, and about 1% of them pray.
So my question is: Why is there no order from the Ministry of Interior to generalize this to all prisons in the Kingdom, ordering prayer and punishing those who do not pray?
Answer:
There is a need to look into the truth of this report. The da'is (preachers) still visit prisons here, and in the western and eastern regions. The da'is contact them from time to time, guiding them and teaching them. We have not been informed of what the writer mentioned regarding them. However, if Allah wills, we will look into the matter and verify it. If there is something of this, then it is necessary to pay attention to the matter of the prisoners and direct them to good, whether in terms of congregational prayer or the Friday prayer, if possible.
And if it is not possible, then they are excused. The prisoner is excused from the Friday prayer, unless it is facilitated to establish it among them. This is a different matter, and the scholars have been asked about it and have ruled that the prisoner is not obligated to perform the Friday prayer unless it is facilitated to establish it and the Friday prayer is held around him and he can attend it, or it is held in the prison and he can attend it. This is possible if it can be done, but many prisoners cannot attend it because they are in a specific place, and there is fear of evil or escape from their movement.
So the conclusion : That this is a matter for consideration regarding the Friday prayer.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.