What is the ruling on praying at home for someone who suffers from sinusitis and foul-smelling secretions, which cause him embarrassment in the mosque, in addition to social phobia that compels him to pray in mosques far from the neighborhood?
There are two reasons for abstaining from congregational prayer. The first is bad breath emanating from the mouth. This is an excuse for the obligation of congregational prayer in the mosque to be waived, and it is not permissible for him to come to the mosque because it harms the angels and the worshippers with this odor. "It is disliked for one who has eaten something like onions, radishes, or leeks, or anything that has a foul odor, to attend the mosque and its congregation until its smell dissipates. The same applies to one with halitosis or body odor, and a butcher with a foul smell. It is recommended to remove them to prevent harm" (Maṭalib Uli al-Nuha 1/699). "Al-bakhar" is bad breath from the mouth, and "al-ṣunan" is bad armpit odor. One who has eaten onions or garlic has been forbidden from attending the mosque, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever eats onions, garlic, or leeks, let him not approach our mosque, for the angels are harmed by what harms the children of Adam" (Narrated by Muslim 564). If it is the habit of the sick person to pray in the mosque in congregation, then he will be rewarded for it even if he prays in his home, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When a servant falls ill or travels, the like of what he used to do when healthy and at home will be recorded for him." The second reason is social phobia that afflicts you when mixing with people. This is not considered one of the excuses that permit you to miss the congregation, as there is no necessity for it. It is a presumed fear, not a certain one, and this leads to worse psychological illnesses. Therefore, you must consult a doctor to treat this illness.
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