What is the medical explanation for my fear of bothering the worshippers beside me, and for its effect on my humility (khushu') and theirs when praying in the mosque?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Oct 24, 2026
You should not pay attention to your fear of bothering the person praying next to you in congregational prayer, as it may be a whisper from Satan to make you miss the virtue of congregational prayer. However, if there is actual harm to the worshippers due to what the worshipper feels from shivers when his foot touches the foot of the person next to him, then in this case, there is no harm in abandoning congregational prayer in the mosque, by analogy with the Prophet's (peace be upon him) prohibition of those who eat onions and garlic from approaching the mosque, due to the reason of harming the angels and people.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/58737
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 58737
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy