as though it were the Zuhr prayer. There is no doubt that this runs contrary to the objective of the Sacred Law and the guidance of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. For this reason, the author stated decisively that it is prohibited to establish it in more than one place within the same town.

His statement, “unless there is a need,” means here a need akin to necessity. For there is necessity and there is need, and the difference between them is that a need is that by which completeness is attained, whereas necessity is that by which harm is averted. Thus, we say: what is prohibited is not made permissible except by necessity. Allah, the Exalted, says:

“He has explained to you in detail what He has forbidden to you, excepting that to which you are compelled by necessity.” [al-An'am 6:119]

An example of a need is when the mosque is too small for its congregation and cannot be expanded, since people cannot pray outdoors in the summer sun or in the winter rain.

Likewise, if the outlying parts of a town are far apart and attendance becomes difficult for people, this too constitutes a need. Yet in our time, distance itself does not create a need; rather, the need arises from overcrowding, because those who come by car from distant places require parking spaces and may not find any. But if parking is available, or if there are few cars, then a person must attend even if he lives far away. Those who live nearby should be told not to come by car, so that they leave room for those who come from afar.

Another need is when there are grudges and hostilities between different parts of the town, such that it is feared that, if they gather in one place, civil strife may erupt. In that case,