Reference: Fataawa Noor ‘alad-Darb – Question No.6461, Pages 287-288, Volume 12
Question: I am a youth of 16 years of age, and my father forbids me from praying [the congregational prayer] in the masjid, as well as the jumu’ah prayer. [And to be honest] if he was able to forbid me from praying [at all] he would, but he knows the Sharee’ah ruling regarding this matter. However, at the same time, he tries to discourage me from [holding firm to] the [upright] path that I am upon, and [instead he encourages me to follow] the path of immorality – so should I obey him?
Response: There is no doubt that obedience to the father is obligatory, and [bear in mind that] Allaah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala) is the One who has obligated obedience to the father. However, you are not obliged to be obedient to your father in everything. Rather, it is obligatory only in matters which do not entail sin against [the Law of] Allaah and His Messenger. So if obedience to your father does entail sin against [the Law of] Allaah and His Messenger, then it is not permissible for you to obey your father in that.
So based upon that, it is not permissible for you to abandon the [prayer in] congregation because your father has forbidden you. So you must exert yourself in joining the congregation [in prayer] as well as the jumu’ah as much as you are able. That said, your father has a right over you, and it is that you advise him, and guide him [to the truth], and that you gift him some beneficial books which he can read, and perhaps Allaah will guide him back to the path of righteousness and firmness upon the truth – because that in itself is from the greatest acts [you can do] to honour your father.
