Question:
Is it still obligatory for patients in rehabilitation process to perform Friday prayer?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Mukadimah
First and foremost, we should be grateful and view the positive aspects when faced with the difficulties of sickness, for it is a chance of getting a great blessing from Allah SWT, The Prophet PBUH said:
مَا مِنْ شَيْءٍ يُصِيبُ الْمُؤْمِنَ حَتَّى الشَّوْكَةِ تُصِيبُهُ، إِلَّا كَتَبَ اللهُ لَهُ بِهَا حَسَنَةً أَوْ حُطَّتْ عَنْهُ بِهَا خَطِيئَةٌ
“There is nothing (in the form of trouble) that comes to a believer even if it is the pricking of a thorn that there is decreed for him by Allah good or his sins are obliterated.”
Sahih Muslim (2572)
The reason is, every believer is positive thinker and believe in fate and qadak and qadar of Allah SWT. They are blessed, so that they are able to be grateful to Allah SWT even when they are faced with difficulties and be patient. This is mentioned in a hadith of the Prophet PBUH:
عَجَبًا لِأَمْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِ، إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ خَيْرٌ، وَلَيْسَ ذَاكَ لِأَحَدٍ إِلَّا لِلْمُؤْمِنِ، إِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ، فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ، وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ، صَبَرَ فَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ
“Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it.”
Sahih Muslim (2999)
Thus, sickness and difficulties are tests but are not all bad and should not be the reason for man to further himself from Allah SWT, for Allah SWT’s blessings are great and he should always turn back to Him and depend on Him. This should be clearly understood.
The Obligation of Friday Prayer
The Friday prayer is obligated for every mukallaf Muslim (man), who has reached puberty, sane, free, muqim (non-traveller; staying for more than three days at a certain place) whether he is a resident or not and is not sick or have other reasons permitted by syarak to leave the Friday prayer.
Allah SWT states:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
“O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.”
Surah al-Jumuah (9)
There are numerous hadiths that state the obligation of Friday prayer, one of them is:
الْجُمُعَةُ حَقٌّ وَاجِبٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ إِلَّا أَرْبَعَةً: عَبْدٌ مَمْلُوكٌ، أَوِ امْرَأَةٌ، أَوْ صَبِيٌّ، أَوْ مَرِيضٌ
“The Friday prayer in congregation is a necessary duty for every Muslim, with four exceptions; a slave, a woman, a boy, and a sick person.”
Sunan Abu Daud (1067)
Situations That Ruled It Permissible to Leave Friday Prayer
There are a few situations when it is permissible to leave Friday prayer:
- A patient is in extreme pain and could not perform the Friday prayer
- A patient is in pain if he has to wait until the Friday prayer ended, or his pain will increase, or it will prolong the time for him to recover.
- It is no longer an obligation for someone to perform the Friday prayer, if it is necessary for him to take care of a critical patient and no one can take over his duties while he performs his Friday prayer. This ruling is applicable whether the patient is a family member or not. [1]
- The patient will face great difficulties. [2]
According to Syeikh Muhammad bin Soleh al-Uthaimin, the type of sickness that permits someone to leave his Friday prayer is an illness where he will face great difficulties if he performs his Friday prayers. [3] This is in accordance with the following evidences:
Allah SWT states:
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ
“So, fear Allah as much as you are able,”
Surah al-Taghabun (16)
Allah SWT states:
لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا
“Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity.”
Surah al-Baqarah (286)
Allah SWT states:
لَيْسَ عَلَى الأَعْمَى حَرَجٌ وَلاَ عَلَى الأَعْرَجِ حَرَجٌ وَلاَ عَلَى الْمَرِيضِ حَرَجٌ
“There is not upon the blind any guilt or upon the lame any guilt or upon the ill any guilt [for remaining behind].”
Surah al-Fath (17)
The Prophet PBUH said:
وَإِذَا أَمَرْتُكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ فَأْتُوا مِنْهُ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ
“And if I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (7288)
Guideline of Friday Prayer for Patients in Rehabilitation Centres
We suggest the following guidelines for patients in rehabilitation centres:
- Patients who are able and can walk to mosque is obligated to perform the Friday prayer.
- Patients who are really sick or in pain or are unable to perform the Friday prayer as stated in the above discussion are exempted from going to the mosque and performing the Friday prayer.
- If the patient is in treatment and he will experience some pain if he performs his Friday prayer, then it is prioritized (afdal) for him to perform the Friday prayer [4], on the condition that he can endure the pain and it does not bring further harm on him or others.
- Help and encouragement from hospital staff is necessary for patients to perform their five obligatory prayers and the Zohor prayer if he is unable to perform the Friday prayer. [5] However, he must follow the guidelines set by Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) to prevent any harm on him and others.
Conclusion
Indeed, Islam is not a religion that burdens its people. This is clearly stated in the Quran:
لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا
“Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity.”
Surah al-Baqarah (286)
Allah SWT states:
وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ
“And has not placed upon you in the religion any difficulty.”
Surah al-Hajj (78)
Hence, it is clear that obligations set by Allah SWT are based on our capabilities. May this explanation give us understanding in practising our religion in our lives. Amin.
Wallahua’lam.
End Notes:
[1] Al-Khin, Mustafa, et.al. Al-Fiqh al-Manhaji ‘ala Mazhab al-Imam al-Syafi’e (Damsyiq: Dar al-Qalam, 1992), vol. 1, pg. 200-201
[2] Al-Nawawi, Yahya bin Syaraf. Al-Majmu’ Syarah al-Muhazzab (Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, t.t.), vol. 4, pg. 486.
[3] Al-Uthaimin, Syeikh Muhammad bin Soleh. Syarh al-Mumti’ ‘ala Zad al-Mustaqni’ (Dar Ibn al-Jauzi, 2001), vol. 4, pg. 311.
[4] Al-Nawawi, Yahya bin Syaraf. Al-Majmu’ Syarah al-Muhazzab (Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, t.t.), vol. 4, pg. 486.
[5] Al-Nawawi, Yahya bin Syaraf. Minhaj al-Talibin ((Beirut: Dar al-Fikr, 2005), pg. 47.