PRAYING AT HOME DURING HEAVY RAIN

 FAJR REMINDER: PRAYING AT HOME DURING HEAVY RAIN

By: Umm Affān

Muḥarram 4, 1448 (19-June-2026)

It is well established that performing the five daily prayers in congregation at the Masjid is obligatory upon every man who is able to do so, according to the stronger scholarly opinion. Nevertheless, the Sharī‘ah, in its mercy and wisdom, recognizes certain legitimate excuses that exempt a person from attending the congregation. Among these valid excuses is rainfall that causes significant hardship, such as soaking one's clothes.

The concession applies when heavy rain causes genuine harm or difficulty, whether by drenching one's clothing, exposing one to severe cold, or making the pathways muddy and hazardous. In such circumstances, a Muslim is permitted to perform the prayer at home instead of attending the Masjid. Ibn ‘Umar reported: The Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) used to order the caller to say on a cold, rainy night, “Alā ṣallū fī ar-riḥāl (Surely, pray in your homes).” [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 635, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 697]

Imām Ibn Qudāmah (Raḥimahullāh) said:

“(A man) may be excused for not praying Jumu’ah or offering prayers in congregation because of rain that makes the clothes wet, or mud that causes annoyance or stains the clothes. It was narrated that ‘Abdullāh Ibn ‘Abbās said to his Mu‘azzin on a rainy day: When you say: I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship but Allāh and I bear witness that Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allāh, do not say, Come to prayer, rather say: Pray in your houses. It was as if the people found that strange, so he asked: Are you surprised by that? One who is better than I am did that. Jumu’ah is obligatory, but I did not want to force you to walk in the mud and on slippery ground.” [Al-Mughnī 1/366]

Further explaining this issue, Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymīn (Raḥimahullāh) made a lengthy commentary on this subject saying: “About the phrase ‘or harm caused by rain or mud’, this is a tenth type of excuses for not praying Jumu’ah or prayers in congregation. If a person is afraid of harm caused by rain or mud – i.e., if it is raining and if he goes out to attend Jumu’ah or prayers in congregation he will be harmed by the rain, then he is excused...” [Check Ash-Sharḥ al-Mumti’ 4/317]

In conclusion, the scholars' statements indicate that the concession is tied to the presence of actual hardship. If the rain is light or a person can easily avoid being harmed—such as by going in a car or using another suitable means of transportation—then the excuse no longer applies. In such a situation, he should attend the congregational prayer, and any slight inconvenience he experiences for the sake of obeying Allāh will, by His Permission, be a source of reward.

I beseech Allāh (ﷻ) to grant us ease in fulfilling our religious obligations, to accept our acts of worship, and to make us among those who respond to His Commands with sincerity and steadfastness. Aameen.