RULING
ON FOLLOWING THE IMAM FROM OUTSIDE THE MOSQUE OR
FOLLOWING
A PRAYER BY LISTENING TO THE RADIO
ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA
ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA
http://variousislamicdawadocuments.blogspot.com
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala
Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and
His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and
from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and
whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but
Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Sallalhu alaihi Wasalam) is His slave and Messenger.
FOLLOWING THE IMAM FROM OUTSIDE THE
MOSQUE
Whoever wants to pray in a mosque in
congregation has to go to the mosque, because if he follows the imam in his
home this is not prayer in congregation, even if he can see the imam and
congregation. Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) has spoken
in detail on this issue.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have
mercy on him) said in his commentary on Zaad al-Mustaqni’:
The phrase “and the same applies if he
is outside and sees the imam or the congregation” means that a person’s
following the imam is valid if he is outside the mosque, on condition that he
can see the imam or the congregation. The apparent meaning of the author’s
words is that it is not conditional upon the rows (of worshippers) being
uninterrupted. So if it is assumed that a person is a neighbour of the mosque
and he can see the imam or the congregation from his window and he prays in his
house, and there is someone with him so that he is not praying alone, then it
is valid for him to follow this imam, because he can hear the takbeer and see
the imam or the congregation.
The apparent meaning of the author’s words
is that he has to see the imam or congregation throughout the entire prayer, so
that he will not miss following the imam. The view of our madhhab is that it is
sufficient for him to see them for part of the prayer.
So, if he is outside the mosque, two
conditions must be met:
1 – That he can hear the takbeer
2 – That he can see the imam or the
congregation, either throughout the entire prayer, according to the apparent
meaning of the author’s words, or for part of the prayer, according to the view
of our madhhab.
The apparent meaning of his words is
that it is not essential for the rows (of worshippers) to be uninterrupted, if
the person is praying outside the mosque. This is the view of our
madhhab.
The second view – which is that of the
author of al-Muqni’, is that the rows (of worshippers) must be
uninterrupted, and that it is not valid for one who is outside the mosque to
follow the imam unless the rows are joined to one another, because what counts
in congregational prayer is for all the worshippers to be doing the same things
at the same time, following one imam in one place. But we say that if the imam
and the worshippers are in the same mosque, and there are two other worshippers
in another room between which and the mosque there is some distance, and
another two in a third room, undoubtedly this is splitting up the congregation,
especially according to the view of those who say that prayer in congregation
must be offered in the mosque.
The correct view with regard to this
matter is that it is essential for those who follow the imam from outside the
mosque there should be no interruption in the rows; if there is any
interruption in the rows then their prayer is not valid.
For example: there are buildings around
the Haram, in which are apartments in which people pray. Those people can see
the imam or the congregation for all or part of the prayer. According to the
words of this author, their prayer is valid, but we say to them: if you hear
the iqaamah then you can stay where you are and pray with the imam, and not
come to al-Masjid al-Haraam.
According to the second opinion, the
prayer is not valid, because the rows are interrupted. This is the correct
view, which refutes the fatwa that stated by some contemporary scholars, that
it is permissible to follow the imam in a prayer that is being broadcast. He
wrote an essay concerning that, entitled al-Iqnaa’ bi Sihhat Salaat
al-Ma’moom khalfa al-midhaa’. This view implies that we need not pray
Jumu’ah in the Friday mosques, rather we can follow the imam of al-Masjid
al-Haraam, because in that way we will have a larger congregation and that will
be better, even though the one who follows a prayer broadcast on the radio
cannot see the congregation or the imam, and if it comes by TV which broadcasts
the prayer live, it is more likely to be appropriate.
But this is undoubtedly a false view,
because it leads to abolishing of prayer in congregation and Jumu’ah prayer,
and the rows (of worshippers) are interrupted in this case, and it does not
achieve the purpose for which the Lawgiver enjoined prayer in congregation and
Jumu’ah prayer.
The one who follows a broadcast prayer
is not praying behind an imam who is in front of him, rather there is a huge
distance between them, and this opens the door to evil, because the one who is
careless about Jumu’ah prayer could then say that so long as it is valid to
follow a prayer broadcast on the radio or TV, then I am going to pray at home,
with my son or brother etc, and we will form a row.
But the correct view is that it is not
valid to follow the prayer outside the mosque unless the rows are
uninterrupted, and two conditions must be met:
1- That the
worshipper can hear the takbeer
2- That the
rows be uninterrupted.
With regard to seeing the imam or
congregation, this is a matter that is subject to scholarly debate. But so long
as the takbeer can be heard and the rows are uninterrupted, then it is valid to
follow the imam. Based on this, if the mosque is full and the rows are
uninterrupted, and people pray in the market places and outside shops, there is
nothing wrong with that.
Al-Sharh al-Mumti’,
4/297-300.
WOMEN IN A HOUSE NEXT
TO THE MOSQUE FOLLOWING THE IMAM OF THE MOSQUE IN PRAYER
If the women’s prayer-space is upstairs
in the mosque or downstairs, then their prayer is valid, because those who are
inside the mosque do not have to be in uninterrupted rows, and there is no
difference of opinion among the scholars. Rather that is stipulated for the
rows of people outside the mosque. See al-Insaaf (2/293).
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have
mercy on him) was asked: What is the ruling on women who pray in the mosque and
cannot see the imam or the men praying behind him, and can only hear his
voice?
He replied: It is permissible for women
– and men too – to pray with the congregation in the mosque, even if they
cannot see the imam or the worshippers praying behind him, if it is possible to
follow the imam. If the sound of his voice can reach the women where they are
in the mosque and they can follow the imam’s movements, then it is valid for
them to pray in congregation with the imam, because it is all one place and it
is possible to follow the imam even by means of loudspeakers or by hearing the
imam’s voice directly or by hearing the sound of one who conveys the takbeers
etc from him. It does not matter if they cannot see the imam or the people
praying behind him. Rather some scholars stipulated that the imam or the people
behind him should be seen if the one who is praying is outside the mosque. The
fuqaha’ say that it is valid for one who is praying outside the mosque to
follow the imam if he can see the imam or the worshippers behind him. **** But
the correct view in my opinion is that it is not valid for a person to follow
the imam outside the mosque even if he can see the imam, if there is a place
inside the mosque where he could pray. That is because the point of jamaa’ah
(congregation) is being in the same place and doing the same actions. But if
the mosque is full and those who are outside the mosque are praying with the
imam and can follow him, then the correct view is that it is permissible for
them to follow the imam whether they can see the imam or not, if the rows are
uninterrupted.
To explain the matter further I
say:
Firstly: If the person is inside the mosque
then his following the imam is valid in all cases, whether he can see the imam
or not, and whether he can see the worshippers behind the imam or not, because
it is all one place.
For example, if the worshipper is
praying on an upper floor, or on a lower floor, and the imam is upstairs, or
there is a barrier between them such as a wall or curtain.
Secondly: If the worshipper is outside
the mosque, and there is space inside the mosque, his following the imam is not
valid, whether or not he can see the imam or people praying behind him, because
what is required is that the congregation be in the same place.
Thirdly: if he cannot find space in the
mosque and he is outside the mosque, then if the rows are uninterrupted, it is
valid for him to follow the imam even if he cannot see him, because the
uninterrupted rows means it is as if they are inside the mosque. End quote from
Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (15/213).
Secondly:
If women pray in a house next to the
mosque, where they cannot see the imam or the worshippers behind him, and the
rows are interrupted, and they can only hear the imam’s voice, the scholars
differed concerning this issue. Some said it is not allowed and some said
that it is valid.
From the words of Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen
quoted above it may be understood that if the rows are uninterrupted in the
house where the women are praying, their prayer in that house is valid and
there is nothing wrong with them praying in that house. But if the rows do not
reach the house (and are interrupted before they reach the house), then it is
not valid for them to pray in the house with the imam of the mosque.
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy
on him) said: If he prays in his house etc with the imam in the mosque, and
there is a barrier between them, it is not valid in our opinion. This was also
the opinion of Ahmad.
Maalik said: It is valid apart from
Jumu’ah. Abu Haneefah said: It is valid in all cases. End quote from al-Majmoo’
(4/200).
Ibn Qudaamah said: If there is a
barrier between the imam and the person praying behind him, which prevents him
from seeing the imam or the people behind him, Ibn Haamid said: there are two
reports concerning this:
One is that his following the imam is
not valid.
The second is that it is valid.
Al-Qaadi favoured the view that it is
valid if they are both in the mosque, otherwise it is not valid. End quote from
al-Mughni (3/45).
The view of the Hanbalis is that it is
not valid to follow the imam (in this case). See al-Insaaf (2/296) and Kashshaaf
al-Qinaa’ (1/491).
From this it may be concluded that the
scholars differed as to whether following the imam in this case is valid. Hence
in order to be on the safe side, these women should pray in another mosque
where there is enough room for them, or they should appoint one of their own
number to lead them in prayer, even if she reads from the Mus-haf. This is
better for them than doing an act of worship concerning which there is a
difference of scholarly opinion as to whether it is valid.
The Standing Committee issued a fatwa
stating that it is not valid to follow the imam in such cases, unless the rows
are uninterrupted. They were asked: What is the ruling on one who prays in
congregation in his house, listening to the loudspeakers of the mosque, and
there is no continuity of rows between the imam and him, as is the situation in
Makkah and Madeenah during Hajj season?
They replied: The prayer is not
valid. That is the view of al-Shaaf’i and was also the view of Imam Ahmad,
unless the rows are uninterrupted until they reach his house and he is able to
follow the imam by seeing him or hearing his voice, in which case it is valid.
But if the condition mentioned is not met, it is not valid, because what is
required of the Muslim is to offer the prayer in congregation in the houses of
Allaah with his fellow Muslim, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever hears the call and does not come, there is
no prayer for him, except for the one who has an excuse.” Narrated by Ibn
Maajah, al-Daaraqutni and al-Haakim. Al-Haafiz said: Its isnaad meets the
conditions of Muslim. And because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said to the blind man who asked him whether he could pray in his
house: “Can you hear the call to prayer?” He said: Yes. He said: “Then answer
it.” Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh. End quote from Fataawa
al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (8/31).
And Allaah knows best.
https://islamqa.info/en/93369
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