The Ruling on Praying in Public Gardens

Question :

What is the ruling on praying in public gardens, bearing in mind that these gardens are irrigated by water which gives off an offensive smell, and I have been given to understand that this water is filtered from sewer water or from wells into which water from polluted irrigation has leaked? And should people be forbidden from praying in such conditions in these parks? I request clarification of the correct opinion in this matter.

Answer:

So long as there is a noxious odor coming from it, then prayer on it is not correct, because one of the conditions for the acceptance of prayer is the cleanness of the ground on which it is performed by the Muslim; but if some kind of thick, clean cover is placed over it, prayer on it will be correct.

But it is not permissible for the Muslim to pray in a garden - even on a thick, clean cover - rather it is incumbent upon him to pray with his Muslim brothers in the Houses of Allah, the mosques about which He, the Most Glorified says:
In houses (mosques) which Allah has ordered to be raised (to be cleaned and to be honored), in them His Name is remembered [i.e. Athan, Iqamah, Salah (prayers), invocations, recitation of the Qur'an etc.] Therein glorify Him (Allah) in the mornings and in the afternoons or the evenings. Men whom neither trade nor sale (business) diverts from the remembrance of Allah (with heart and tongue), nor from performing As-Salah (Iqamatus-Salat), nor from giving the Zakah. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (out of the horror of the torment of the Day of Resurrection). That Allah may reward them according to the best of their deeds and add even more for them out of His Grace. And Allah provides without measure to whom He wills.

And the Prophet said:
"Whoever heard the call (to prayer) and did not answer it, there is no prayer for him, unless he has an excuse (i.e. due to illness or travel).

And a blind man asked the Prophet, saying: "O Messenger of Allah! I have no guide to lead me to the mosque; is there any license for me to pray in my house?"

The Messenger of Allah asked:
Do you hear the call to prayer?»

He replied: "Yes." He said:
"Then answer it.

And the Hadiths which carry this meaning are numerous.

Thus, it is incumbent upon the Organization for Commanding the Good and Forbidding the Evil to stop the people from praying in the parks and to order them to pray in the mosques, in accordance with the Words of Allah, the Almighty, the All- Powerful:
Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety).

And the Words of Allah, the Most Glorified, Most High:
The believers, men and women, are Awliya' (helpers, supporters, friends and protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism and disbelief of all kinds and all that Islam has forbidden).

And the words of the Prophet:
*If any of you saw something detestable, he should change it with his hand; and if he is unable to do this, then by his words; and if he is unable to do this, then in his heart- and this is the weakest kind of faith.