QUESTION:
What do the scholars of the Dīn and muftīs of the Sacred Law state regarding the following issue: If a group of some people all have a break at the same time during Salāh time – as is the case in the U.K. – and they hence pray their Salāh on an individual basis, so will they be sinful for this?
Questioner: Saaim from UK
ANSWER:
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایة الحق والصواب
If no one amongst them is qualified for Imāmah [leading the prayer], then there is no problem in them praying separately. However, if at least one amongst them is qualified for Imāmah [leading the prayer], then they will all be sinful due to having omitted the congregational prayer [Jamā’ah]. Nevertheless, their prayer will be fulfilled, and if they are to pray their Salāh in a Masjid [Mosque], etc. close by and the congregational prayer has finished there, then these individuals are to pray away from the main prayer area[1].
Just as my master, the Imām of the Ahl al-Sunnah, al-Imām Ahmad Ridā Khān – upon whom be mercy – states in Fatāwā Ridawiyyah, ‘The congregational prayer has not yet taken place, and some people are praying separately in one place, whereas one of them is eligible for Imāmah [leading the prayer], so they will be sinful due to omitting this; the Fard will be fulfilled. Moreover, if the main congregational prayer has taken place and some people were left by oversight and came to pass, even then they should pray in congregation away from the main prayer area.’
[Fatāwā Ridawiyyah, vol. 23, p. 104]
[1] [This may be in another hall or floor of the Masjid so as to not disturb the other people praying or as to not confuse people into thinking that this is the main congregation.]
والله تعالی أعلم ورسوله أعلم
صلی الله علیه وآله وسلم کتبه أبو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء القادري
Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qādiri
Translated by Haider Ali al-Madanī
Read the original Urdu answer here: [Q-ID0877] If a group of us decide to pray salah individually instead of together will we be sinful?
