Question:
What do the scholars and experts in Sharia say about praying in Jamaat at home with the wife and the children?
Answer:
Did you know that early Muslims living in Makkah had no masjid, so their homes were the masjid? The disciples would pray at home, lead jamaat and teach Quran. Today, because of the coronavirus pandemic, many of you will be missing attending and praying at the masjid. Nevertheless, this time offers an opportunity to again practise an ancient way, the way of the early oppressed Muslims. So, let’s make the most of these days of social isolation. Islam belongs at home; the Masjid is an operational base for promoting the message and law of Islam. Islam is to be lived at home. Your home can become a Masjid. By praying in Jamaat the value of your prayer rises by 27 times, you can’t afford to miss such a large spiritual profit?
Prior preparations to Jamaat
- I believe it’s important to have a daily routine, run your day as you used to. Get changed don’t stay in your pyjamas! Have mid-morning tea at 10.30 am, light lunch at 12.30 noon.
- Control how much news and TV you and your family watch. I have the habit of watching Channel 4 news at 7 pm and then BBC news at ten only. That’s a lot. Avoid as much as you can during daytime; too much worrying news can be depressing! Instead find alternative activities that will enable you to spend quality time with your children. For example, try something new launched invitation magazine (https://www.invitation-magazine.co.uk)
Your environment for Jamaat
- Select the lounge or another room for praying together in Jamaat. Say the Azan, pray Sunnah and say Iqama before the prayer. Small children and the wife will stand behind in the second row. Get the son to stand next to you, but slightly behind. If there is no male at home, women can still pray in Jamaat but they stand in the same row.
- I recommend you give a lesson to your family from the ‘theme of the week’ or alternative resource. My book has 45 chapters from Imam Nawawi’s Hadith book. It’s a beautiful collection for Moral, social and spiritual development. Visit: https://www.karimia.com. The internet too has many wonderful resources. Get into habit of listening to at least one Islamic-related talk per day.
Go the extra mile to cope with the lockdown
- A Prophetic Sunnah is to fast on Mondays and Thursday, I follow this beautiful sunnah so do thousands of Dieticians and experts in nutrition globally.
- In addition to the five daily prayers I strongly recommend praying Ishraq voluntary prayers after Sunrise (7 am); The midmorning Chasht after or before Breakfast (9.30am); Awwabeen after Maghrib.
- Ensure you look out for vulnerable relatives and neighbours. Social distancing does not mean that we stop caring.
Effective Duas to recite for confidence and reassurance
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبَرَصِ وَالْجُنُونِ وَالْجُذَامِ وَمِنْ سَيِّئِ الأَسْقَامِ
Allah, I seek your protection from leprosy, dementia, infectious diseases, and other serious illnesses. (Abu Dāwūd: 1554)
بِسْمِ اللهِ الَّذِي لاَ يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيم
In the name of Allah, nothing on earth nor in the sky can harm me the slightest, He is the Hearing and the Knowing.
And Allah knows best.
Dr Musharraf Hussain Al-Azhari
Director of British Fatwa Council
