Jumua and Congressional prayers during coronavirus

[munir rana]

Dear Brother Joseph

As salamu alykum.

Recently many countries abandoned congressional prayer, even Jumua due to coronavirus issue. I think its reasonable. But  some clerics and their followers in my country oppose this restriction. They say, congressional prayers must be performed in mosque at any cost. The say Jumua prayer can not be performed in home. Even they dont care about hadith references regarding this issue (though they are hadith lovers).

Allah said, one must do at his best. But is their any other explicit or implicit verses in the Quran where Allah allows believers to stay at home in such time of dificulties rather than to go to mosque.

[Hamzeh]

Asalamu 3alykum munir rana


As you may already know the Friday (Jum'3a) participation to a believer is clearly prescribed in the Quran and can be argued as obligatory.

62:9 O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on the Friday (day of congregation/assembly), hasten earnestly to the Remembrance of God, and leave off business: That is best for you if you but knew



If this was a call simply to just a prayer, then arguably one would not possibly be asked to leave off business, as the regular five daily prayers all require to leave off business or anything else anyways when its time to pray. So this seems to imply that there would be a assembly or congregation of some sort which will take more time and requires one to leave off the business for a good period of time.


There is also other verses in the Quran that illustrate how other communities of the past have also prayed in groups such as, 3:43, 2:43.

So we do notice the importance of the Friday to believers to assemble together.

However it is obvious the world is not in a normal time. There has been growing fatalities all around the world from the coronavirus and spreading to unknown territories.

Despite the different opinions about how dangerous or where it may of started and for what reasons, we can safely say that the virus does impose great danger to many people around the world and that it is spreading through crowded gatherings.

This should be taken seriously till people can start to understand a little more and we should stay on the side of caution as a believer is given the permission to abandon his/her prayer when in danger and return to normal form of prayer when safe. This can be also taken as wisdom for the Friday prayer.

2:238-239 Attend constantly to prayers and to the middle prayer and stand up truly obedient to God. But if you are in danger, then (say your prayers) on foot or on horseback; and when you are secure, then remember God, as He has taught you what you did not know

It is also important to note that protecting a life is very important in Islam. People should take all the precautions necessary to saving lives Insha'Allah which can be seen from verse 5:32.

5:32 For that cause We decreed for the Children of Israel that whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind. Our messengers came unto them of old with clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty), but afterwards lo! many of them became prodigals in the earth.

As noted above that one is should always take precaution and at the same time do their duty to God as best one can. This can also be done in the houses as well or even possibly online/websites as I have noted brother Joseph once hinted to this and which seems like an excellent idea.

64:16 So keep your duty to God as best you can / what you are able, and listen, and obey, and spend; that is better for your souls. And whoso is saved from his own greed, such are the successful

Insha'Allah that helps

Salam

[munir rana]

Asalamu 3alykum Brother Hamzeh

Thanks for your answer. It helps.

salam.

[Hamzeh]

Wa 3alykum assalamu

Your welcome brother, there is also another verse I forgot to mention which would be worth sharing regarding this topic.


8:25 “And fear/guard against a chastisement / trial which cannot afflict exclusively those of you who do wrong, and know that God is severe in punishment”

That trials, punishments, calamities, will not always "only" fall on those who are wrong-doers. It may also fall on those who are righteous.

May Allah protect us and make us cautious of the trials and save us Insha'Allah. May He give us strength and patience with all that overcomes us Insha'Allah.

Salam

[Wakas]

There is no explicit verse AFAIK. According to 4:102 not even illness is an exception to participating in the timed-salat.

Of course, it will depend on the congregational element of one's understanding.

[Shahmatt]

As noted above that one is should always take precaution and at the same time do their duty to God as best one can. This can also be done in the houses as well or even possibly online/websites as I have noted brother Joseph once hinted to this and which seems like an excellent idea.

Salaams. Thank you for your well considered comment. I refer to the quoted above.

Congregational prayer is possible via video conferencing methods using apps like Skype, Whatsapp, Zoom, Teams etc. Would there be any particular reason why this method of joining in spirit should not be allowable?

It occurs to me that the extenuating circumstances we face might possibly cause a global gathering of believers using online methods to form very large congregations.

Perhaps it was God's plan all along that humankind be joined in this way. Perhaps God intends believers to abandon the physical space of mosques, for a little while at least, in order to refocus our purpose.

If only we take the hint and let it happen perhaps there is benefit for all of us from this.