or [his property, or fears for his livestock from a thief, a beast of prey, or that they might stray if he leaves them and goes; or fears a fire in his house, his property, or his crops if he occupies himself away from them; or fears the flight of his slave, or the loss of any of his wealth,] or he has bread in the oven or food on the fire, [and fears it will spoil if he leaves; or he has lost property, or a runaway slave he hopes to find in that situation, and fears losing him] due to being occupied away from him; or he has a debtor from whom, if he does not persist in demanding payment, he will lose his money; or he has merchandise or a deposit with a man that will be lost if he does not reach him, [or he is a guard (nāṭūr) of an orchard or similar, and fears it will be stolen if he leaves, or he is a hired worker who cannot leave what he was hired to protect]. This and its likes are an excuse for missing Jumu'ah and the congregational prayer; [because the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) to pray in one's dwellings contains a removal of the hardship of mud and rain. [Its harm makes it clear] that this is permissible for things that are more harmful than them.] The third category is fearing for one's child or family that they might be lost, or his child is missing and he hopes to find him in that situation, or [he fears the death of a relative and will not be present with him]. All of this is an excuse for leaving Jumu'ah and the congregational prayer. [And this was stated by] Ata', al-Hasan, al-Awza'i, and al-Shafi'i, [and we know of no opponent regarding this. Ibn al-Mundhir said: It is established that Ibn Umar was called to visit Sa'id ibn Zayd after the sunrise (ḍuḥā), while he was preparing for Jumu'ah, so he went to him and left Jumu'ah. And because when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) granted a concession to leave the congregation when dinner is served or one needs to relieve oneself, it was an indication of the permissibility of leaving it for everything we have mentioned, because it is greater in harm].
(46) In (M): "or something of it burns". (47) In (M): "and fears it will burn". (48) Al-Nāṭūr: the guard of a vineyard. (49) Omitted from (M). (50) In (M): "al-talaṭṭuf" (gentleness). (51) In (M): "and the congregations". (52) Thus, it is perhaps: "so their harm was an indication". (53) Omitted from (M). (54) In (M): "he has a relative he fears will die if he occupies himself with these, so he will not be present with him". (55) In (M): "And this is the school of thought". (56) Omitted from (M).
