Fatwaa ID: 698

Question:
Praying at Home
Assalamualaikum Mufti Saab – Can i pray salah at home if i get better khushu praying at home? Unfortunately whenever i go to the masjid i get bad experiences, neighbor disliking standing shoulder to shoulder, spreading elbows in sujood so i dont get space to do sujood, if i whisper a little loud in ruku and sujood and correct myself and start whispering quietly the neighbor keep whispering loud throughout salah to harass me with intention to fight me, all this is making me leave the masjid and pray at home in peace. Unfortunately the area i live in i observed has arrogant muslims. I am a quiet, shy person so i dont confront them after salah, but when i get home i get sad and depressed that i should have said something after salah, it makes me think i am a coward. My salah is the best when i pray by myself and my son in the house with complete khushu, peace and sukoon and i dont have to deal with inconsiderate harsh people. Please advise. JazakAllah khair.

Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

Brother in Islam,
We take note of the details of your query. Based on the information you have provided, it is obvious that this is from the deception of the shaytaan. The shaytaan often comes in “righteous” ways and tries to divert a person from his obligations. In this situation, he has come to you with guise of khushoo’.
It is waajib to perform salaah with the congregation. Aside from the obligation, the rewards are tremendous. The more congregants there are, the greater the rewards. Furthermore, there are other social and communal benefits of attending the congregation.
As far as khushoo’ is concerned, that is a goal we strive and work towards. You cannot give preference to this over an obligation. It seems from the query that the deterents you refer to are not really deterents. I am sure no one wants to harass you or fight with you. The reality is that in salaah, it is necessary to recite loud enough to hear oneself. Try to ignore these negative thoughts that come to your mind and give others the benefit of the doubt. If someone does cause inconvenience, try to overlook it. It will grant you much relief.
You may perform your sunnah, waajib and nafl salaahs at home. That is praiseworthy. You may work on your khushoo’ here as well.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/

06/28/1444 AH – 01/21/2023 CE

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

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