To miss or not to miss that is the question

What to do if you live in a town in which there is no Masjid?

What if you can't find a job that will allow you to take off Fridays?

Ibn Qudaama mentions that if a person is in a town in which there is no Masjid, and the closest Masjid is further than 3 miles in another town then that specific Jumu'ah is not obligatory upon him.

A few things to mention:

1) The proof they use is the Ayah in Surah Al-Jumuah itself, "O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew."

-Meaning that one should be close to the call to prayer in order to respond to it.

2) Al-Mardaawi (817 H.), a Hanbali scholar mentions:

 "As for that which is used as a permissible excuse for missing Jumuah is the fear of harm in ones livelihood for that which he needs to live."-Al-Insaaf

-Meaning, That in the case where one has no other form of income and he is completely reliant upon that one job to eat, live, etc, then in this case it's permissible (according to some scholars) to take the Job until another one comes available.

3) It's mentioned that 3 people are sufficient enough for Jumuah, even though the Hanbali Madhab disagrees and says 40. In any regard whatever opinion you follow and you have that number Jumuah should be made in that particular place if it's far from a Masjid in another town.

Allah knows best.

Working during Jumu'ah?

The madhhab is that an employee (one hired - Ajeer) is absolved of the obligation if it means he will lose his livelihood or cause his employers wealth to be lost. It's important to note here that the Madhhab position is not carte blanche for someone to say "Whelp! Got work! No Jumuah!"

Instead it means that reasonable accommodations should be requested, and if available the obligation remains. If however your boss comes to you at @12:45 and says you have a meeting at 1:30 (when jumuah starts) and that you can't miss it because business depends on it, then in that case a person may be excused.

Allah knows best.

Where to place the hands in prayer?

The Praying person should put his hands grasped right over left below his naval, and this is reported on'Ali and Abi Hurairah and Ath-Thawri and Ishaaq, That 'Ali (رضي الله عنه) said from the Sunnah is to put the right hand over the left hand below the naval, reported by Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawood.

And on the authority of Ahmad that he said on his chest above his naval, and this is a statement of Sa'eed bin Jubair and Ash-Shafi'i because of what was reported on Waa'il bin Hajr, that he said he saw the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) praying and he put his hands on his chest one upon the other.

And there is another third narration of Ahmad that he said a person has the choice of putting them either below his naval, or above his naval because of both being reported in narrations, and there is ease in this issue as to what to do.

-Sharh Al-Kabeer, Shams-u-deen bin Qudaama Al-Maqdisi Al-Hanbali (D. 682 Hijri)

Making Ablution with makeup on

If the Makeup (or anything that prevents the water from reaching the skin necessary for Ablution) is covering that skin and is waterproof it is must to first remove the makeup (or anything else) before doing the ablution (Wudhu). 

Prayer of Entering the Masjid during Khutbah

If a person comes late to Friday prayer, and the Imam is giving the sermon, does the person pray the two units of coming into the Masjid (Tahiyaat Al-Masjid) before sitting and listening to the Khutbah?

According to Ahmad bin Al-Hanbal as mentioned in his Masaa'il, he should pray before sitting.*

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*It was narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (رضي الله عنه) said: A man came whilst the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) was addressing the people on Friday, and he [the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم )] said: “Have you prayed, O So and so?” He said, “No.” He said: “Stand up and pray two rak’ahs.” [al-Bukhaari (888) and Muslim (875)]

Abu Qatadah (رضي الله عنه) reported: The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said, "When anyone of you enters the mosque, he should perform two Rak'ah (of voluntary prayer) before sitting." [al-Bukhari (444) and Muslim (714)]

Prayer of a woman with her husband

Question to Sheikh Saalih al-Fawzaan about where a wife should stand when praying with her husband alone.

Student: Fadilatu-shaykh, may Allaah grant you success he says: When the woman prays the salaatul-jama'ah with her husband, should she stand next to him, or is it permissible for her to step back and pray behind him?

Answer: No. The woman prays next to her husband aligned with him - nothing is wrong with this. Rather, this occurs with a non-related woman who is not from his mahaarim (pl. mahram) - she should be behind him. Even though there exists differences about this matter. Yes. Nonetheless, she should pray behind him. Yes.

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Explanation of 'Muntaqa al-Akhbaar: 1435-27-01