Is It Permissible for Me to Miss Friday Prayer Due to the Corona Virus?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I’m wondering if I’m allowed to miss three Jumma prayers due to the coronavirus. My family won’t let me leave the house because of the virus. Please assist me with this response. I feel terrible about missing Jumma.

Answer

I pray you are well.

Yes, you can “miss” them. Technically, you are not obliged to pray them due to the very real fear of contracting or carrying the Coronavirus. In this situation, the obligation is temporarily lifted. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “When the servant becomes ill or travels the same reward he would have got [for his worship] as a resident and when healthy is written for him.” [Bukhari]

This shows that, sometimes, circumstances prevent us from our regular worship, but this does not diminish our reward with Allah.

Listen to your family. Stay safe, and keep others safe.

Please watch Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s insightful video on this matter.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.