Farmers Abandoning the Congregation for Fieldwork

Question

Most people here are village farmers who work the land. For their convenience the morning prayer is performed at the beginning of its time, very early. Even so, there are some people who do not pray with the congregation and, abandoning the congregation, go off to the fields. Are these people abandoners of the congregation? Is an expiation (kaffara) binding on them?

Answer

Whoever does not pray with the congregation is an abandoner of the congregation. But if someone misses the congregation because of a pressing need, he is not to be taken to task. Making a habit of abandoning the congregation merely for minor convenience is severely blameworthy. Repenting, seeking forgiveness and being regular [in it] henceforth is itself the expiation.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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