Praying at the Mosque or at the Office?
Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen said, “We should ask the office authority, is it possible for the employees to go to the nearest mosque or not?
If it is possible for them to go to the nearest mosque without neglecting their works, then it is compulsory for the employees of that office to pray at the mosque, because the strongest opinion is that the congregational prayer must be done at the mosque, and not merely praying in congregation, although there are scholars who stated that the most important thing is praying in congregation, whether it is done at the mosque, at home, or even at the office.
But if going to the mosque is not possible due to several reasons: the mosque is located far from the office, or it is feared that if the employees are allowed to go to the mosque they will go scattering around, or even use the chance to return home, or their work will be neglected if they left it to the mosque, because the works are just plenty at that time; in such condition, the employees may pray in congregation at the office because carrying the office tasks is indeed an obligation that could not be deserted.
We said that the employees may pray in congregation at the office, so they should all gather in a certain place and pray under the leadership of an imam.
It is compulsory to do if it is possible, but if it isn’t, and the office is comprised of several floors, the employees of each floor must gather in a certain place on each floor to pray in congregation.”
Sheikh Sholih al Fauzan said, “It is compulsory to do the congregational prayer at the mosque if it is possible. It is allowed to pray in congregation at the office if going to the mosque causes several problems, such as:
The works will be neglected, or the lazy employee can avoid the congregational prayer or even worse, one who lazily pray may avoid the prayer at all; at such condition, disciplining the employees to perform congregational prayer even though just at the office is an obligation to do, hence, every compulsory prayer should be done in congregation as much as possible.
The allowance for the employees to go to the mosque, then some of them do not pray at all, or pray alone, is an evil mistake that might be eliminated by disciplining them to pray in congregation at the office.
It is also lawful for the office leaders to pray in congregation at the mosque, not with the congregation of their employees at their office. Each of them has taken the right step, inshaa Allah. “ (See: “Fatawa Muhimmah li Muwazhzhofil Ummah, page 1-2).
Author: ustadz Aris Munandar, M.Pi.
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fatwa
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