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Converting home garage into a Musallah

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Bismihi Ta’ala

Hamidan Wa Musallian

As Salam ‘Alaykum Wa Rahmatulahi Wa Barakatatahu

Respected Mufti Sahib,

In our locality in America, there is an individual who has purchased a house and has converted his garage into a Musallah. What is the hukm regarding this? There are Masajid in the locality, is it permissible for an individual to not attend the Salah in the Masjid but to pray at home and claim that his garage is a Musallah. The garage is attached to the house and one can only enter from within the house.

Wa Salam

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuhu.

Shariah has emphasised on praying Salah in congregation. It is narrated in the following Hadith:

عن ابي حريرة رضي الله عنه قال، سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: صلاة الرجل في الجماعة تضعف على صلاته في بيته وسوقه خمسا وعشرين ضعفا وذلك انه إذا توضأ فأحسن الوضوء ثم خرج الى المسجد لا يخرجه الا الصلاة لم يخط خطوة إلا رفعت له بها درجة وحط عنه بها خطيئة، فإذا صلى لم تزل الملائكة تصلي عليه ما دام في مصلاه اللهم صل عليه، اللهم ارحمه ولا يزال احدكم في صلاة ما انتظر الصلاة (صحيح البخاري/748)

Translation: It is narrated from Abu Hurairah (Radiyallahu Anhu), that he heard the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) saying, “The prayer that is observed in the Masjid with congregation is twenty-five times better than the prayer observed in his house or the market. His observing prayer in the Masjid in congregation is such, that when he performs ablution and makes good ablution, then he leaves to go the Masjid and goes only to observe the prayer, not a step is taken except he is raised a status and a sin is forgiven. When he begins to perform the prayer and for as long as he remains in his place, the angels continue to pray for him, seeking peace and mercy for him and for as long as he waits for the prayer to begin, his waiting is recorded also as if he is in prayer.” (Sahih-Al-Bukhari/ 748)

“قال عبد الله بن مسعود رضي الله عنه، من سره ان يلقي الله غدا مسلما فليحافظ على هؤلاء الصلوات حيث ينادي بهن فان الله شرع لنبيكم صلى الله عليه وسلم سنن الهدى، وإنهن من سنن الهدى ولو انكم صليتم في بيوتكم كما يصلى هذا المختلف في بيته لتركتم سنة نبيكم، ولو تركتم سنة نبيكم لضللتم” (صحيح مسلم/1488)

Translation: “Abdullah bin Mas’ud (Radiyallahu Anhu) says, whoever feels happy and is pleased that he should meet Allah Ta’ala tomorrow (in the hereafter) as a Muslim (one who completely submitted himself to the will of Allah), that person should be mindful of these prayers in the places where call for them is made (in the houses of Allah, the Masājid). For indeed Allah has ordained for his messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) practices and ways of guidance, and being mindful of the prayers in the houses of Allah is from amongst them. And if you begin to observe these prayers in your homes the way the one who differs with us observes them in his home; then verily you have left the way of your prophet. And if you will leave the practices and ways of your prophet, most definitely you will be misguided.” (Sahih Muslim/1488)

However, it may be difficult for some to attend the Masjid due to various reasons. It is therefore encouraged to arrange other facilities to perform Salah. This is understood from the following Hadith: 

عن عائشة رضي الله عنها قالت امر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ببناء المسجد في الدور (سنن الترمذي/601)

Translation: Aisha (Radiyallahu Anha) narrates, “The Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) ordered that facilities for prayers should be made in the localities” (Sunnan At-Tirmidhi/601)

The individual in reference should be commended for making a Musalla and for arranging for people who do not go to the Masjid to pray Salah in congregation.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Bayazeed

Student – Darul Iftaa

UK

Checked and approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

23-11-1440 | 26-07-2019

This answer was collected from Askimam.org, which is operated under the supervision of Mufti Ebrahim Desai from South Africa.

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