بســـم اللــه الرحــمــن الـرحـــيــم

◾Is corona virus a valid reason not to pray in congregation?◾

Our Shaykh Abu Bilaal Al-Hadhramy- may Allah preserve him- was asked the following question on 17th Rajab1441( 12th March 2020):

📝🔹Question:

The Questioner says: Is it permissible not to attend the obligatory congregational prayers due to fear of the corona virus?

📩🔸Answer:

Yes, it is OK not to attend if this virus has spread genuinely and on a large scale whereby leaving the home is dangerous.

It is unacceptable for a person to place himself in harms way and expose himself to the virus. Rather, he prays in his home and remains therein. He must not leave if he is likely to get infected.

For indeed, Islamic Law has authorised absence from the obligatory congregational prayers for reasons that are less than what has been mentioned.

This is permitted either:

1. If he is going to harm someone else
2. If he himself is going to be harmed.

(For example) If he eats garlic or an onion he will harm someone else; therefore he cannot attend. [1]

(Similarly) if he fears for his life due to an attacker that has threatened to kill him and is lying in wait, it is OK not to attend the obligatory congregational prayers. This is also the case for this aggressive virus.

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[1 ]رواه مسلم ٥٦٤ عن عَنْ  جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ  رضي الله عنه[” مَنْ أَكَلَ الْبَصَلَ وَالثُّومَ وَالْكُرَّاثَ فَلَا يَقْرَبَنَّ مَسْجِدَنَا، فَإِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ تَتَأَذَّى مِمَّا يَتَأَذَّى مِنْهُ بَنُو آدَمَ “]

Whoever eats onion and garlic and leek, cannot come near our masjid. For indeed, the angels are harmed by the same things as the children of Adam.

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Translated by: Abu Sufyaan
Saami ibn Daniel Al-Ghaani

✒Arabic Transcript

🕪 Audio

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Shaykh Sulaiman ar-Ruhayli hafidahullah, said:

إذا وجد فيروس الكورونا في المنطقة أو منعت الدولة من التجمعات جاز تعطيل الجمعة والجماعة ويرخص للناس في الصلاة في بيوتهم ويصلون جماعة بأهل بيوتهم فإن هذا أشد من الوحل والمطر الذي يرخص به في ترك الجمعة والجماعة ،ومن كان مصابا أو يشتبه أنه مصاب يحرم عليه حضور الجمعة والجماعة حمى الله الجميع.

“If the coronavirus (COVID-19) is found in a specific district or the government bans [mass] gatherings, there then it becomes permitted to cancel the Friday prayers and congregational prayers. It becomes a concession for the people to pray in their homes and they should pray in congregation with their households. For verily this (trial) is more severe than mud and rain that which is a [legitimate] excuse to leave off attending the Friday prayers and the congregation prayers for. Whoever is infected or has similar symptoms of being infected is prohibited from attending the Friday prayers and congregational prayers, may Allah protect you all.”

Translated by AbuFajr AbdulFattaah Bin Uthman

Ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin Hizaam was asked the following question,

‎سؤال: هل يجوز الدعاء في السجود بغير اللغة العربية كالصومالية لمن لم يحسن اللغة العربية؟

Question: Is the du’aa in prostration permissible in other than the Arabic Language, like Somali for the one who isn’t proficient in the Arabic Language?

‎الجواب: نعم. يجوز الدعاء بذلك ولكن التسبيح

‎ يسبح باللغة العربية سبحان ربي الأعلى فهو سهل وليس فيه مشقة يسبح باللغة العربية ثم إذا أراد أن يدعوا دعا بلغته التي يستطيع أن يدعوا بها, فلا بأس عليه في ذلك .

Answer: Yes, the du’aa (of another language within prostration) is permissible, however the tasbeeh is made in the Arabic Language (i.e “Subhana Rabiyal’Alaa”), for this is easy and isn’t difficult – He makes Tasbih in the Arabic Language. Then if he wants to make du’aa in his language which he is able to -he makes du’aa in it. So, there is nothing wrong upon him in that.

http://sh-ibnhizam.com/wfatwa-details.php?DID=52&ID=179

Translated by Abu Eesa Yunus