Is mud alone considered a valid excuse for omitting congregational and Friday prayers?
Chapter on the Traveler's Prayer
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
Mud by itself is considered a valid excuse for abandoning Friday and congregational prayers. This opinion is held by the Qadi and the scholars of our school (Hanbali), based on the reasoning that hardship is incurred in footwear and clothing due to mud, similar to the hardship caused by rain. This is also the position of Malik. The stronger position maintains that the hardship of mud, which involves soiling clothes and shoes and the risk of slipping, causing harm to oneself and garments, is greater than mere wetting, and since mud equals rain as an excuse for foregoing Jumu'ah and congregational prayers, it proves equality in the recognized hardship warranting the ruling.
Supporting text
A secondary view holds that mud does not constitute a valid excuse because its hardship is less severe than that of rain. Rain causes complete wetting of footwear and clothing, whereas mud does not, thus invalidating the analogy drawn with rain. This view is attributed to Abu al-Khattab and aligns with the Madhhab of Al-Shafi'i and Abu Thawr.