Is it permissible for me to work in a place far from the mosque to avoid the sin of abandoning congregational prayer, if the officials at the workplace prevent performing congregational prayer in the mosque?
The preponderant opinion is that congregational prayer is obligatory for individuals. Those who consider it obligatory have differed on whether it must be performed in the mosque or not. Prayer in the mosque has great merit, and most scholars who consider congregational prayer obligatory do not stipulate it must be in the mosque, due to the generality of the Prophet's ﷺ saying: "The earth has been made for me a place of prostration and a means of purification." Also, because he ﷺ prayed in his house when he was complaining [of illness], and because he said to two men: "If you pray in your dwellings, then catch the congregation, pray with them, for it will be a supererogatory prayer for you."
Advice: Be diligent in performing congregational prayer in the mosque whenever possible. If this is difficult due to work, then pray with some of your colleagues at work, and do not resort to trickery to avoid the mosque. If you cannot pray in congregation at all, then it is not permissible for you to remain in this job unless there is harm in leaving it, and you should seek a more suitable job that does not prevent you from attending the mosque.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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