BLOCKING ROADS FOR PRAYERS

 

©Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori

I read a hadith in our Masjid last Tuesday against the practice of blocking the roads for prayers, especially on Fridays and many were shocked. I used the opportunity to explain how we can organise ourselves in order not to cause hardship on other people in the name of praying. We should have members of Masjid to direct movement of vehicles and how people park. Unfortunately, many don't obey simple traffic guidelines in Nigeria and we want change.

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم forbid us from praying on the roads. Even though the hadith is dha'eef (weak), SheikhAbdulazeez Bin Baaz رحمه الله said the instruction should be applied because it is for the purpose of refraining from harming people. Blocking roads unnecessarily can bring hardship upon people. What if someone is being rushed to the hospital? It is even dangerous for those praying on the roads. It is ignorance or negligence that makes people to block roads in the name of praying or holding an event. If a Mosque is full, use the extensions and don't pray in front of the Imām. If the extension is full, then go to another Mosque.

It should be noted that the prayer observed on the road is valid, but it is a practice we should refrain from.