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Fatwa CenterPraying in the Street If no Mosque Is Available
Question
I live in Canada and I cannot easily go to the mosque for prayer. Can I pray in the street when the prayer is called?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Allah Says (what means): {So fear Allah as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend [in the way of Allah]; it is better for yourselves. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul - it is those who will be the successful.} [Quran 64: 16]
If you can go to the mosque, you should not miss the prayer in it. Know that when the Prophet was asked by a blind man to give him permission to pray in his home as he did not have any one to guide him to the mosque, he said to him: “Do you hear the call (the Athaan)?” When the blind man said: “Yes.” Thereupon, the Prophet said to him: “Answer the call; I do not find any authorization for you.” [Muslim]
The scholars considered this Hadeeth as a sound evidence for the obligation to pray in the mosque in congregation and that it is unlawful to miss it except for a sound excuse such as heavy rain or severe illness. The Prophet said: “The congregational prayer of anyone amongst you is more than twenty-five times in reward than his prayer in the market or in his house.” [Al-Bukhari]
The Prophet also said: “The congregational prayer of anyone amongst you is more than twenty (five or twenty seven) times in reward than his prayer in the market or in his house, for if he performs ablution completely and then goes to the mosque with the sole intention of performing the prayer, and nothing urges him to proceed to the mosque except the prayer, then, on every step which he takes towards the mosque, he will be raised one degree or one of his sins will be forgiven. The angels will keep on asking Allah's forgiveness and blessings for everyone of you so long as he keeps sitting at his praying place. The angels will say, ‘O Allah, bless him! O Allah, be merciful to him!’, as long as he does not invalidate his ablution or causes trouble to another person." The Prophet further said, "One is regarded (as performing the) prayer so long as one is waiting for the prayer.” [Al-Bukhari]
So, Dear Brother, do your best to attend all the prayers in congregation. If you cannot go to the mosque, for some reason, you can pray in your home or anywhere else (street) provided that it is a pure place. If there are people passing in front of you, put something (Sutra) between you and the passing people. The Prophet said: “The earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for offering Salah (prayer) and a thing to purify (perform Tayammum) from, therefore anyone of my followers can offer Salah wherever he is, at the time of the prayer.” [Al-Bukhari]
If you find some difficulties, Allah will give you a better reward.
Allah knows best.
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