The Ruling on abandoning Prayer in Congregation with the excuse of Soiled
Clothing
Question:
I have a colleague in work (a car workshop) whom I entreat to pray, but he refuses, claiming that his clothes are not clean and it is difficult for him to change them and that he will pray when he returns to his house. What is the ruling on this action of his?
Answer:
It is incumbent upon this colleague whom you have mentioned to pray with the congregation and it is not permissible to delay the prayer until he returns to his house, according to the words of the Prophet: Whoever heard the call (to prayer) and did not answer it, there is no prayer for him, unless he has an excuse. [1] An excuse would be illness, or the like. As for dirty clothes, that is not an excuse. However, if there is some impure filth on them, he must clean them or change into clean clothes. We ask Allaahýs Guidance for all of us.
[1] Ibn Majah no. 793, Ad-Daraqutni 1 :420 and Al-Hakim 1 :245.
Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz
Fatawa Islamiyah Vol. 2 Page 397
