{"_id":"68a73cefab60fa7b30403476","title":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Is attending the mosque for prayer obligatory in modern cities where the adhan may not be audible?\\n\"}]}","question":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"I want to understand the obligation to attend the mosque for prayer in Islam, especially in modern cities where hearing the adhan can be affected by tall buildings, street layouts, traffic, noise, or weather. Given that walking or travel distance may be longer than the straight-line distance to the mosque, how should Muslims determine whether attending is obligatory? Should the obligation be based primarily on hearing the adhan, or on practical ability to reach the mosque? How can one fulfill the obligation of congregational prayer under these urban conditions?\\n\"}]}","answer":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Performing the obligatory prayers in congregation is without doubt superior to praying alone. The scholars, however, differed regarding its exact ruling:\\n\\nAccording to the majority of the Ḥanafī and Mālikī schools, and a minority opinion within the Shāfiʿī school, it is a sunna mu’akkada (highly emphasized sunna).\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"The more authoritative opinion in the Shāfiʿī school is that it is a farḍ kifāya (communal obligation).\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"According to the Ḥanbalī school, it is a farḍ ʿayn (individual obligation).\"},{\"attributes\":{\"list\":\"bullet\"},\"insert\":\"\\n\"},{\"insert\":\"\\nWhile hearing the adhān may serve as an indicator of proximity to the mosque and ease of attendance, jurists emphasized that the underlying principle is ability without undue hardship. This includes distance to the mosque, whether by foot or by available means of transport, physical ability and health, safety and cost, environmental factors such as weather and obstacles.\\n\\nIn the context of modern cities, Muslims should consider their practical proximity and ability to attend regularly, such that the mosque is within a reasonable distance by local custom, where going does not entail genuine hardship.\\n\\nWhere attending the mosque consistently is difficult due to distance, work hours, or urban constraints, one should still strive to pray in congregation, whether in the mosque when possible, or at least by organizing prayers with family, colleagues, or neighbors. In this way, the spirit and blessing of congregational worship is preserved.\\n\"}]}","tags":[{"_id":"668d9fe60b76658b4c232875","tag":"Salah: Congregational","count":92},{"_id":"668d9fe10b76658b4c2327d3","tag":"Worship: Masjids, Mosques, and Musallahs","count":50},{"_id":"668da01a0b76658b4c232e20","tag":"Salah: Adhan and Iqamah","count":15}],"createdOn":"2025-08-21T15:36:15.308Z"}