Should the muathin proclaim “pray in your homes” during the athaan because the masājid are closed?
Our Shaykh Abu Bilaal Al-Hadhramy- may Allah preserve him- was asked the following question on 16th Sha’ban (9th April 2020):
The Questioner says: Some masājid, as we are hear from Saudi and elsewhere; are calling within their athaan for prayers to be performed within homes. What is the ruling of this?
Answer:
It has no evidence. What we know regarding calling for the prayers to be performed within homes is in cases of rain as well as severe cold and wind.
As for illnesses; we are not aware that they would call: “pray in your dwellings” and “pray in your homes” in Shaam (present-day Syria) in times of widespread illnesses or pandemics. This is not known to us.
As for seeking to extend (the athaan) by the likes of these things; it requires evidence. Applying (the ruling of) the branch (i.e. pandemics) to the root (i.e. extreme weather) requires further examination.
As for the country of Yemen; it is not appropriate for “pray in your homes” to be said within it due to the non-existence of the illness.
As for them; (i.e. The Saudis) perhaps (in their view) the comparison (i.e. of the coronavirus to extreme weather) applies to them. Having said that; it is (still) better for the athaan to be made in the usual everyday manner without any addition being made to it because the default is that there are no additions.
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Translated by : Abu Sufyaan Saami ibn Daniel Al-Ghaani