He has a medical problem in his nose – should he stop praying in congregation?
Question

                I suffer from a problem in my nose, and an unpleasant smell comes from it. I have been to doctors who said that there is no cure for this problem. Should I keep on looking for a cure from the doctors, or should I give up and wait for an answer from Allaah? Should I stop praying with the congregation and attending lessons because I am bothering those who are around me?.
Praise be to Allah.
    Firstly: 

    First of all we ask Allaah to bless you with healing by His 
    grace and bounty. We advise you to seek reward with Allaah for He will 
    reward those who are patient without measure. His testing of His slaves is 
    better for them in the long run, because it is an expiation for their sins 
    and raises them in status. 

    It was narrated that Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him) 
    said: The Messenger of Allaah  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon 
    him) said: “On the Day of Resurrection, those who were hale and hearty will 
    wish that their skin had been cut with scissors, when they see the reward of 
    those who were put to trial.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2402); classed as 
    hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi. 

    We also advise you to seek treatment, and not to accept the 
    words of some doctors. How often have doctors despaired of healing a sick 
    person, then Allaah has brought about his healing at the hands of another 
    doctor? Nowadays many alternative remedies have become available, praise be 
    to Allaah, so you could seek the help of someone who is specialized in 
    Arabic medicine or sha’bi medicine (folk medicine). Perhaps with them you 
    will find something through which Allaah will grant you healing. But before 
    and after everything else, do not fail to ask Allaah for healing, for du’aa’ 
    brings nothing but good, and if one is sincere then Allaah will soon 
    answer. 

    It was narrated that Usaamah ibn Shareek (may Allaah be 
    pleased with him) said: The Bedouin said: O Messenger of Allaah, should we 
    not treat sickness? He said:  “Yes, O slaves of Allaah, treat sickness, for 
    Allaah does not create any disease but He also creates its cure or its 
    medicine, except one disease.” They said: O Messenger of Allaah, what is it? 
    He said: “Old age.” 

    Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2038); classed as saheeh by 
    al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi. 

    Secondly: 

    With regard to the ruling on your attending congregational 
    prayers in the mosque, if you are afraid that you will be bothering the 
    people around you, and you cannot prevent this by any means, such as wearing 
    strong perfume or covering your nose when praying, then in that case you 
    have to stay away from congregational prayers. You have a valid excuse 
    before Allaah and before people. And in sha Allah you will have the reward 
    for praying in congregation even if you pray at home. 

    It was narrated from Abu Moosa (may Allaah be pleased with 
    him) that the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: 
    “If a person is sick or travelling, there will be recorded for him a reward 
    for that which he used to do when he was at home and was healthy.” Narrated 
    by al-Bukhaari (2834). 

    Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

    The scholars said: If what is happening is from Allaah and 
    human actions have nothing to do with it, if it will disturb other 
    worshippers then he should go out (i.e., from the mosque), such as a bad 
    smell in the mouth or nose, or one who has a foul smell coming from his 
    armpits. If he has a smell that will bother other people, he should not come 
    to the mosque. 

    If someone were to question the idea that this is from 
    Allaah, the answer is: If Allaah is testing you with this, do not annoy 
    other people with it and do not offend the angels, and you will be rewarded 
    for bearing that thing with patience, so seek reward with Allaah. You are 
    not sinning if you do not pray with the people, because you are refraining 
    from doing so by the command of Allaah. 

    If he says: Won’t this weaken my faith because praying with 
    the congregation is better? 

    We say: you are not to be blamed for this weakening of faith, 
    just as the menstruating woman does not pray and her faith is weakened by 
    that, but she is not to be blamed for that, because if a person falls short 
    because of something that is beyond his control, he is not to be blamed. End 
    quote. 

    Al-Sharh al-Mumti’ (5/113, 114) 

    And he was asked: I suffer from a bad smell in my nose and 
    mouth, and I am embarrassed to mix with people and to offer prayers in the 
    mosque, because I heard a hadeeth which says that the angels are bothered by 
    that which bothers the sons of Adam. Can I pray at home? Please note that I 
    pray at home most of the time, except for Jumu’ah, which I pray in the 
    mosque. Please advise me, may Allaah reward you with good. 

    He replied: 

    We ask Allaah to bless you with healing. There is no sin on 
    you if you pray at home, for Jumu’ah and other prayers, because you are 
    excused. Allaah knows your intention and that were it not for this problem, 
    you would pray with the congregation, so He will record the reward for you, 
    because the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said 
    during the campaign to Tabook: “There are people in Madeenah whom we left 
    behind, but we did not cross any mountain pass or valley but they were with 
    us. They were kept back by excuses.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2839). We ask 
    Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, to heal you. 

    But I hope that you will see whether putting on strong 
    perfume will cover the smell that is coming from you. If that is so, then 
    strive to do that. But if that is of no benefit, then you are excused. If 
    you can put on strong perfume that will cover the unpleasant smell, then you 
    can offer the five daily prayers and Jumu’ah prayer in the mosque. End 
    quote. 

    Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (15/question 
    no. 1070). 

    Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked: 

    My father is elderly and does not go to Jumu’ah prayer. He 
    said that he is sick, which is his way of referring to the bad smell in his 
    mouth (halitosis). He says that he does not want to bother the people with 
    this smell. Is it permissible for him to do that? 

    He replied: 

    Yes, that is a valid excuse. If he has a strong unpleasant 
    odour and it is not easy for him to get rid of it, then he is excused, just 
    as having a smell of onions and leeks is an excuse. But if there is a remedy 
    and a way of removing the smell, he should do that so that he will not stay 
    away from Jumu’ah prayer and prayer in congregation. But if he is unable to 
    do that then he is excused more than the one who eats onions. Undoubtedly 
    halitosis is more annoying to those who are around him, if the smell is 
    obvious. End quote. 

    Noor ‘ala al-Darb (tape no. 219; minute 11). 

    And Allaah knows best.