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یہ صفحہ اردو میں بھی موجود ہے۔ زبان کی تبدیلی کے لیے نیچے بٹن دبائیں۔
Question:
Assalamu Alaikum. I am 12 years old, and according to Islam, I have reached puberty. Due to school, I am unable to perform the Friday prayer. I have to run away from school to pray Friday. I fear the consequences that may arise because of this. My action could cause discord between me and my parents, there could be problems with the school administration, and other difficulties may also arise. In such a situation, is it permissible for me to miss the Friday prayer?
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, to proceed:
Obligation of Friday and the Warning for Abandoning It
When a boy is an adult (baligh), sane, and a resident, and the conditions for Friday are present, then the Friday prayer is an individual obligation (Fard al-Ayn), and abandoning it without a valid excuse is a major sin.
Based on this, the esteemed scholars have written in clear words that missing Friday due to college/attendance is “absolutely not permissible”. (Banuri University)
Similarly, job/duty hours have also not been considered in themselves as such an excuse that prayer (or congregation) is waived; the esteemed Muftis have clearly written that employment or adherence to job hours is not such an excuse that prayer is waived, and they have also mentioned the importance of Friday and the warnings for abandoning it.
(Banuri University)
In Religion, “Prayer” is Essential and “Wisdom” is Also Essential
The nature of the Shariah is that along with adherence to obligations, wisdom, good management, and avoiding discord and corruption are also required.
Therefore, being concerned about praying Friday is absolutely correct, but “running away to go” every time should not become a method that causes severe quarrels at home, major distrust from parents, or such major trouble at school that is difficult to resolve.
The correct way for this is that you adopt a wise, permissible, and regular arrangement—one that does not involve lying, deception, and unnecessary quarrels.
A Plan of Action for You
1) First and Foremost Effort: Friday with Permission and in an Organized Manner
- Take your parents into confidence and try to get formal permission from the school administration.
- Increase the weight of your religious demand by uniting with other adult students studying with you at school so that the school administration considers it seriously and finds a solution.
- If the school is near a mosque, then going to the mosque with permission to perform Friday prayer is the original and better way.
- If going to the mosque is not possible but the conditions are met and there is general permission/permission from the institution, then scholars have also mentioned the possibility of establishing Friday prayer at the school; scholars and Muftis have stated that a mosque is not a condition for Friday prayer, in a city/large settlement where there is general permission, Muslims can perform a valid Friday prayer by participating in the prayer, with all its conditions, although performing it in a mosque is better. (Banuri University)
- In the fatwas of Darul Uloom Deoband, the possibility of establishing Friday prayer within an institution (if the principal/administration gives permission and there are no Shariah impediments) is also found. (Darulifta Deoband)
2) If You Cannot Convince Your Parents, Nor Is It Possible to Get Permission by Uniting with Other Adult Boys
If, despite your sincere efforts:
- Your parents are not understanding,
- You are alone,
- The administration does not give permission,
- And “running away to go” every Friday is also practically no longer possible,
Then your next step should be to talk to your parents in a respectful manner that:
- “Now I am religiously accountable (mukallaf), Friday is obligatory, abandoning it is a very great responsibility.”
- “We should choose a school where there is no obstacle to performing Friday prayer.”
Explain to them with gentleness, love, and calmness, and refresh the fear of Allah in their hearts that:
On the Day of Judgment, there will be accountability before Allah; worldly education has its place, but you preventing me from the obligatory prayer is very dangerous.
(Keep your tone soft while saying this, there should be no accusation or rudeness.)
Remember the principle: In a matter where disobedience to Allah becomes necessary, obedience to anyone there is not permissible—be it parents or teachers.
However, in all other matters, respect and obedience to parents and teachers is obligatory, and in this very issue, it is also not correct to adopt rudeness, fighting, or a harsh tone—rather, continue to explain with wisdom.
3) “Scolding/Bearable Punishment” is Not a Shariah Excuse
If in “running away to go” there is no unbearable hardship or real major harm (for example, severe danger, or such harm that you cannot bear)—and there is only fear of scolding, displeasure, or light/bearable punishment—then this generally does not constitute a Shariah excuse.
Based on this general principle, the authoritative scholars have declared missing Friday due to an excuse like “attendance” as impermissible. (Banuri University)
4) If There is Truly “Extreme Compulsion” and Friday Prayer Becomes Impossible in Any Way
If every path is closed and there is truly such compulsion that performing Friday prayer is not possible (and there is a strong apprehension of major harm), then scholars have written that in such extreme compulsion, Dhuhr prayer should be performed, and along with it, arrangements for repentance, seeking forgiveness, and supplication should be made.
And Allah knows best what is correct.
Allah is the Best Knower, the Most Knowing.
