F-12.5

There is no demand to go to group prayer (O: whether communally obligatory (dis: f-12.1), personally obligatory (f-12.3), or sunna (f-12.2) ), when there is a valid excuse not to, such as:

1- hardship due to rain or snow that soaks clothing;

2- hardship due to heavy mud (O: from getting soiled or slipping when walking through it);

3- (O: severe) winds at night (O: or dawn);

4- severe heat or cold (O: because of the hardship of moving in them, and likewise intense darkness at night, which is an excuse not to attend);

5- being in the presence of food or drink that onewants to have (O: as they obviate the awe and humility befitting they prayer. One should eat enough to take the edge off one's hunger (A: and then go to join the group) );

6- holding back from going to the toilet or breaking wind (O; as one should relieve oneself first, even if one fears missing the group prayer);

7- hazard to one's person;

8- hazard to one's property (O: from theft or seizure, whether it belongs to oneself or to another whose property one is obliged to protect. It also includes bread one has put in the oven that would burn if one were to leave and attend the prayer);

9- hardship from an ailment (O: even when one is able to attend, if it entails a hardship comparable to that of walking in the rain. If one is suffering from a slight indispostion such as a toothache or the like, it is not an excuse);

10- taking care of a sick person (O: who would suffer harm if one left to pray, whether a relative, friend, or total stranger) or taking care of someone ill who is strongly attached to one's staying with him;

11- the death of relative, friend, (O: or spouse);

12- fear of missing the impending departure of the party one intends to travel with;

13- having eaten something with a bad odor(O: such as raw onions or garlic, though not if cooked as this eliminates the smell);

14- or fear of meeting someone who will try to collect a debt one owes him and one is unable to pay.

(O: The demand for group prayer is not eliminated by other the above excuses.)