KUWAIT CITY, Nov 21: Several religious clerics have stressed the importance of Muslims staying at home to perform Friday prayers or the five obligatory prayers if they are suffering from a cold or flu, in order to avoid prevent the disease from getting worse and to avoid transmitting the infection to other people in the country. mosques. In response to some religious people who believe that there is no explicit text requiring people with colds to stay at home, they explained that these people focus only on the literal interpretation of the texts. They neglect all the verses and hadiths (sayings) of the Prophet which emphasize the importance of not harming others. This is particularly important as people infected with a cold can harm those around them, especially since wearing a mask cannot completely prevent the spread of infection.

According to Islamic preacher Dr. Rashid Al-Oleimi, people infected with the flu should stay at home and not be forced to attend communal prayers at the mosque for the five daily prayers or Friday prayers. The problem arises when some people cite hadiths about the importance of obligatory prayers at the mosque without taking into account the individual’s illness, such as a cold. Corporate prayers are a recommendation rather than a strict obligation, depending on the situation. A person suffering from a cold could spread the infection to those praying next to or behind them, including by sneezing, which can spread the virus. Such a person should stay at home, in accordance with the hadith which states: “There should be neither harm nor mutual harm.” The meaning of this hadith is that a person should not harm himself or others.

If a person wishes to go to the mosque but is prevented from doing so by illness or fear for his own health or that of others, he will still deserve the reward of communal prayer because he abstained from attending. out of concern for herself and others. insists on praying at the mosque while suffering from a contagious disease, knowing that others may be at risk of infection, they might sin.

Let’s assume that Islam is concerned with avoiding harm or inconvenience caused by things that are not harmful, like garlic and onions. In this case, the situation is even more serious for a person with a cold. Al-Oleimi referred to the saying of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH): “Whoever eats from this tree, i.e. garlic, should not approach our mosque. » He said: “This noble prophetic hadith highlights the importance of preventing harm and inconvenience to people in mosques, even from food smells. Someone who has a cold and sneezes in the mosque can disturb and distract those praying, causing them to lose concentration and humility during their prayer.

Therefore, a Muslim suffering from a contagious illness, whether a cold or otherwise, should perform his prayers at home. “Regarding those who issue fatwas claiming that there is no clear text in the Quran and Sunnah requiring a person with a cold to stay at home, Dr Al-Oleimi said such fatwas should be based both on direct evidence and on analogical reasoning: “Where is he who prays in the mosque while he has a cold, in the light of the situation: “Allah?” burdens a soul only with what is within its capabilities. It will have (the consequence of) that (good) which it has gained, and it will bear (the consequence of) that (evil) which it has gained. . Our Lord, do not lay blame on us if we forget or err, and do not impose on us a burden like that which You imposed on those before us, and do not burden us with what we cannot bear. -forgive us and have mercy of Us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people”? This issue also requires strict attention to those who are known to neglect performing communal prayers in mosques. Their behavior becomes problematic, especially when people gather around them after prayer. Their insistence on attending mosque while suffering from a cold has the potential to transmit the illness to others. A mask may not be enough to prevent transmission of infection. “In a related context, Islamic preacher Sheikh Saleh Al-Ghanim said that it is permissible for a sick person suffering from a mild cold to miss Friday prayers and the five daily prayers of the mosque, especially if he is difficult to attend However, a person with a mild cold can still attend communal prayers in the mosque wearing a mask to avoid disturbing others, stressed the imam of a mosque, Sheikh Ahmed Abu Ibrahim grand. deserved to pray in congregation at the mosque.

He explained that while waiting for the prayer, the angels ask for forgiveness on behalf of the worshiper, and this continues even after the prayer. Furthermore, the Muslim earns a reward for every step he takes to and from the mosque. The greatest merit is the increase in good deeds, as the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Group prayer is twenty-seven times better than prayer alone. » However, the situation differs in certain circumstances, as the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Whoever hears the call to prayer and does not respond to it, his prayer is invalid except for an excuse . » It is understood that the “excuse” mentioned in this hadith includes conditions such as illness, fear or other valid reasons. . Therefore, someone who is suffering from a cold should pray at home. Sheikh Saleh Al-Ghanim expressed concern over the tendency of some religious scholars to adhere strictly to the literal meaning of texts without considering the context of all hadiths. He said: “It is important to note that if a fatwa is issued stating that there is no explicit text requiring a person with a cold to pray in the mosque, the response should be that Islam is a religion of ease and tolerance, and not a religion of extremism. or cause harm to the lives of Muslims. » Sheikh Saleh Al-Ghanim highlighted the teachings of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), who said: “Make things easy and do not complicate them. Deliver good news and do not delay.” Allah Almighty said: “And He has not caused you any difficulty in religion.”

By Najeh Bilal
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff