Praying at Home Instead of Praying in the Masjid

5-2-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

I am Muslim living in a bad environment I pray at home. Do I have to pray in the Masjid?
Answer:

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 sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

Performing obligatory prayers in congregation is an obligation upon every Muslim man according to many sound Ahadeeth.

For example, the Hadeeth narrated in Saheeh Muslim reads “A blind man came to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) and said: “O Messenger of Allah! I have no one to guide me to the mosque can I pray at home? The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) granted him permission. When the man turned away, he called him and said: "Do you hear the call (the Athaan)?" The blind man said: "Yes." Thereupon, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said to him: "Answer the call; I do not find any excuse for you.” [Muslim]

There are many other Ahadeeth that support this ruling. Therefore, you are not permitted to offer prayers at home if you hear the call to prayer. Being in a bad environment does not permit you to neglect praying in congregation. A Muslim should perform all his religious obligations and keep his Islamic identity so that he becomes a model for others.

Allah knows best.

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