The Neighbor of the Masjid
Question :
Is the following and authentic Hadith or a narration from one of the Companions:
"There is no prayer for the neighbor of the Masjid except in the Masjid"
It is a saying that expresses a degree of harshness, yet Islam is easy and not difficult. Noble Shaikh, please discuss your view on this issue.
Answer:
The Hadith:
"There is no prayer for the neighbor of the Masjid except in the Masjid." was recorded by Imam Ahmad, Ad-Daraqutni, Al-Hakim, At- Tabarani, and Ad-Daylami-they all related this Hadith, with a weak chain. Ibn Hajar said, "It has no authentic chain even though it is well-known among the people." Scholars of Hadith consider this Hadith to be weak.
But suppose the Hadith to be authentic; it means, then, that there is no prayer that is complete for the neighbor of the Masjid except in the Masjid, because there are authentic Hadiths that do show that a person's prayer is correct when he prays alone, but he is sinning if he has no acceptable excuse from the Shari'ah not to pray in congregation.
The congregational prayer in the Masjid is compulsory, we gather this ruling not from the Hadith in question, but from other authentic Hadiths, such as the Prophet's ﷺ saying:
"Whoever hears the call (to prayer) but does not come, then he has no prayer, unless he has an excuse.
Recorded by Ibn Majah. Ad-Daraqutni, Ibn Hibban and Al- Hakim its chain fulfils the conditions of Muslim.
Once, when a blind man sought permission from the Prophet to pray at home and excused himself by saying that he had no one who could lead him to the Masjid, the Prophet ﷺ said to him :
"Do you hear the call to prayer?"
The man said, "Yes." The Prophet ﷺ said : "Then answer it". Recorded by Muslim in his Sahih.
Source:
Ibn Baz
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 7 Pages 170-171-172
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