Either he goes and prays with the congregation while overcome by drowsiness, not knowing what he is saying; or he sleeps until he has had enough rest for the drowsiness to pass, then prays at ease. We say: Do the latter, for you are excused.

His statement, “or harm from rain or mud”: this is the tenth category of those excused from missing the Friday and congregational prayers.

Thus, if he fears harm from rain or mud—that is, if it is raining and he would be harmed by the rain were he to go out for the Friday or congregational prayer—then he is excused.

Harm from rain may consist in one’s clothes becoming wet, the coldness of the weather, or the like. Likewise, if he fears being harmed by mud. In earlier times, people suffered from mud, because the marketplaces were of earth and, when rain fell, mud and slipperiness would result. A person would then find it difficult to make his way to the mosque. If this occurs, he is excused.

In our present time, however, mud generally causes no harm, because the streets are paved and contain no soil. At most, one may find accumulated rainwater in certain low-lying places, but this does not harm a person’s clothes or feet. Thus, in such a case, the excuse exists only while the rain is falling; once the rain stops, there is no excuse. Yet in some villages whose streets have not been paved, the excuse remains. This is why the Messenger’s caller would announce on a cold or rainy night: “Indeed, pray in your dwellings.” (1)