Question: A questioner says: I –praise be to
Allah – like to offer Salah (Prayer) at its due time but sometimes I can not go
to the Masjid when the Mu’adhin (caller to Prayer) announces the Adhan, due
to certain matters. Should I offer the Salah after the Mu’adhin ends the
Adhan or should I wait until the Iqamah (call to start the Prayer) is announced?
Answer: You should go to the Masjid (mosque), if
you are sound and able. If you are sick or unable to go, such as a person in
prison or anything similar, you should offer the Salah after the Adhan (call to
Prayer). You have nothing to do with Imamah (leading people in congregational
Prayers) and Iqamah. You should offer the Salah when the time is due whether
before or after the people and you should not wait for Iqamah. You are
permitted to offer Salah before or after it, if you are unable to go to
the Masjid due to sickness and the like. However, if you are able, you
have to go and respond positively to the Mu’adhin by offering the Salah
with the people, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) says: <<Whoever
heard the call to Salah and he did not come to it, then there is no
(reward for) his Salah except with an excuse.>> Moreover, when a blind
man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said: I have no one to
guide me to the Masjid. Do I not have permission to offer Salah at home?
<< The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Do you hear the call to
Prayer? He said: ’Yes’. He then said: Thus, respond! [Related by Muslim in his
Sahih]
According
to another narration reported by Hadith compilers other than Muslim:<< I
do not find any permission for you.>> To conclude, if the blind person who
had no one to guide him, did not have permission, then how about others, i.e
those who can see and are sound and healthy? Indeed, it is
obligatory on you, brother to keep to the performance of Salah in congregation
but if you are legally excused, you can offer the Salah before or after
the congregation and there is no blame on you in that, praise be to Allah.
Source: Fatwas of Nur
‘Ala Al-Darb, Volume 11, part no. 11; page no. 150, Book on Salah (Section 6), Chapter
on Congregational Salah | www.alifta.net
