Thursday, September 6, 2012

If there is snow or rain, does that make it permissible to miss Jumu‘ah?

Did the Prophet (blessingsand peace of Allah be upon him) ever miss
the Jummaa prayer because of bad weather. the weather which is meant
isabout 20cm of snow.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
There is no report in the Sunnah that the Prophet (blessings and peace
of Allah be upon him) did not pray Jumu'ah becauseof rain or snow;
rather he did not pray it when travelling.
Secondly:
It is permissible to not pray Jumu'ah and prayers in congregation in
the event of heavy rain, cold wind or snow which is bothersome to
people and makes it difficult for them to go to Jumu'ah, because of
the report narrated by al-Bukhaari (901) and Muslim, according to
which Ibn 'Abbaas (ra) said to his muezzin on a rainy day: When you
say Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasool-Allaah, do not say, Hayya 'ala
al-salaah (cometo prayer); rather say, Sallu fi buyootikum (pray in
your houses). It was as if the people found that objectionable. He
said: One who is better than me did that. Jumu'ah is obligatory, but I
did not want to force you to walkin the mud and on slippery ground.
[al-Nawawi] said: This hadeeth indicates that Jumu'ah may be waived
because of rain and the like. This is our view and the view of others.
Something different was narrated from Maalik (may Allah have mercy
onhim). And Allaah knows best which is correct. End quote.
The Hanbalis regarded snow as one of the reasons that make it
permissible not to go to Jumu'ah or prayers in congregation.
Its says in Kashshaaf al-Qinaa' (1/495): Attendance at Jumu'ah or
prayers in congregation may be waived in the event of rain, mud, snow,
ice or a cold wind on a dark night, because of thewords of Ibn 'Umar:
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) would ask his
caller to call out on a cold or rainy night when travelling: Pray
where you are. Agreed upon. It was also narrated from Ibn Maajah with
a saheeh isnaad, but he did not say "when travelling." In al-Saheehayn
it was narrated from Ibn 'Abbaasthat he said to his muezzin on a rainy
day -- Muslim added that it was a Friday -- … and he narrated the
hadeeth quoted above. And the same applies to snow, ice and cold.
This confirms that cold wind on a dark night is anexcuse, because it
is likely that it will rain. End quote.
It is well known that many people are not bothered by snow and it does
not prevent them from going to work and meeting other needs. For these
people, snow is no excuse for them not to attend Jumu'ah. But if it
bothers them and makes it very hard for them to get to the mosque,
then itis an excuse.
And Allah knows best.

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