Attending morning prayer at a Christian school
Fatwa No: 282373

Question

Assalamu alaikum,i m studying in a Christian institution.every morning they ask all students to stand up for prayer..they play a song abt jesus saying that jesus is a father..then some words in Bible..then they say a prayer starting with 2"dear Lord"..then end up "In jesus name we pray Amen". can I stand for this..its a rule in college.but I never mind this prayer..i ll say surah and dhikr in that time..i m really stressed..I m fear of doing shirk..

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

It is impermissible for a Muslim to attend such a prayer or participate in it in any way even if he does not care for what they are saying because merely standing with them is prohibited. A Muslim is forbidden from attending or witnessing sinful acts and is enjoined to leave a gathering in which sins are committed – so what about a gathering in which Shirk is committed? Allaah The Exalted says (what means): {And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allaah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed Allaah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together.} [Quran 4:140]

Al-Qurtubi said in his Tafseer: "The verse: {… so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation} means, 'until they say something other than the words of unbelief.' The verse then says: {Indeed, you would then be like them.}; this indicates that it is an obligation to avoid such sinful people when they commit evil deeds, because whoever does not avoid them is in effect approving their actions, and the approval of unbelief consists of unbelief. Allaah The Exalted says: {Indeed, you would then be like them.} So, when a Muslim sits in a gathering in which sinful acts are being committed and he does not denounce them and show any type of rejection to the disbelief displayed in such a gathering, he bears a burden of sin just like theirs. In fact, the Muslim is enjoined to denounce sinful words or deeds. If he is not able to denounce them and proclaim his rejection, he should at least get up and leave such a gathering so that he will not be one of those mentioned in this verse."

Al-Jassaas said: "This verse underlines the obligation of forbidding evil acts. Forbidding an evil act includes matters like to show one's disapproval of it if one is not able to remove it and if the evil act is being committed in a gathering, one has to leave such a gathering until those committing the sin stop committing their sin." [Ahkaam Al-Quran]

Therefore, it is incumbent on you, Sister, to abstain from attending or witnessing such gatherings in which unbelief is committed. You are advised to leave this institution for an Islamic one or for any other educational institution free of such displays of disbelief if Islamic schools are not available. Please refer to Fataawa 8080 and 30220 about the objectives and dangers of missionary schools.

Allaah Knows best.

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