Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaah. I am 22 years old and have a very bad temper. I was really committed to praying in the mosque, but then some of the people of the Tableeghi Jamaa’ah started approaching me and tried to enroll me in their activities. I really hate them for their false beliefs and Sufism as well as their abandoning the study of the Quran. I would never compromise with such people who do not accept the truth but try to convince others to join them in their falsehood. They did this to me for many days, whenever they would see me. Our whole town is heavily populated with people of the Tableeghi Jamaa’ah, and almost all of the mosques are owned by them. They even clashed and fought many times with our Salafi brothers over trivial issues. Later, I realized that they were actually monitoring my activities and even told me not to be with those Salafi brothers and that it was misguidance. I am a person who does not interfere in others' lives, and I get really, really, really angry when someone interferes in my own person life, even if it be my own parents. So in the end, I stopped going to the mosque because I did not want to confront them anymore; otherwise I would end up getting in a fight with them. I could not tolerate it anymore. Now I pray all the obligatory prayers at home due to the abovementioned reason. Is this haram, and is it a major sin?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

What you mentioned about not going to the mosque for that reason is due to the lures of the devil. You should know – may Allah guide you – that, according to the most preponderant view of the scholars, the prayer in congregation is obligatory. Therefore, you should not abandon going to the mosque for the congregational prayers, especially due to the weak reasons that you mentioned.

The fact that the congregation of the mosque makes some mistakes does not justify you deserting them or abandoning what Allah enjoined upon you regarding witnessing the congregational prayer.

We fear that you are prejudiced against this group and that you exaggerate in despising them; otherwise, it is obligatory to refer to the scholars and abide by their rulings about problematic matters. Then if it becomes clear to you that they are wrong about a certain issue, then you should advise them in a gentle manner and clarify their mistakes to them with wisdom and good admonition. If they take heed, then all praise be to Allah; otherwise, you have done your duty and are acquitted from sin.

As regards your bad temper, then you must struggle to defeat it by adhering to leniency, gentleness, forbearance, and tolerance.

For more benefit on the obligation of attending congregational prayers, please refer to fatwa 82264 and to fatwas 87749 and 85666 on the Tableeghi Jamaa’ah.

Also, for more benefit about controlling anger, please refer to fatwas 91040 and 86681.

Allah knows best.