What is the ruling on reducing attendance at congregational prayers, especially Fajr prayer, due to people observing worshippers and writing reports that lead to arrests and injustice?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Congregational prayer is obligatory for free men, and whoever abandons it without an excuse is sinful. Among the permissible excuses for abandoning it are: a strongly presumed or certain fear, not an imagined one; based on Allah's saying: ﴿Allah does not burden a soul beyond its scope﴾ [Al-Baqarah: 286], and ﴿Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship﴾ [Al-Baqarah: 185]. And from the jurisprudential maxims: "Hardship brings ease" and "No harm nor reciprocal harm." Adherence to the congregation is obligatory when the necessity ceases to exist.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/51307
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 51307
- 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