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JUG-2026-52AK55WB4M

Praying individually in a Shia masjid

Question

Can I pray in a Shia masjid, not in jamaat — just pray my salah separately and leave? They have the Hasma (Hand of Maryam) hung up at the front near the mimbar.

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Answer

It is permissible and valid to perform salah individually in such a masjid, provided it is clean and no clear disbelief or acts of shirk are present. However, it may be disliked (makruh) due to the presence of the symbolic element mentioned, which is contrary to our belief — it is better to avoid praying there if possible. *وَتُكْرَهُ الصَّلَاةُ فِي مَوْضِعٍ فِيهِ مَا يُشْغِلُ الْقَلْبَ أَوْ فِيهِ صُوَرٌ أَوْ شِعَارُ أَهْلِ الْبَاطِلِ* — "Prayer is disliked in a place where there is something that distracts the heart, or where there are images, or symbols of falsehood." (al-Bahr al-Raʾiq, Ibn Nujaym)

Answered byMufti SajidAuthorized Scholar

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