The Stationed Troops and Others
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Praise be to Allah alone, and blessings and peace be upon the one after whom there is no prophet. After that: The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta has reviewed what was sent to His Eminence the Grand Mufti from the Honorable Director General of the Department of Religious Affairs of the Armed Forces, the appointed: Abdullah ibn Saleh ibn Abdul Hamid
Al-Sheikh, with number (2/10/1829) and date 30/3/1431 AH, and referred to the Committee by the General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Scholars with number (493) and date 1/4/1431 AH. He asked a question, the text of which is: Given the current calm in the situation, we request the issuance of a detailed fatwa regarding: (the Friday prayer, shortening and combining prayers, and completing the prayers), taking into account the following matters: 1- Among the stationed troops, those who are originally residents of the Jazan region and whose units are fixed in the Jazan force, whether their unit moves to participate in the front line or not. 2- Among the stationed troops, military units that came from some regions of the Kingdom and are still participating, with no known time for their return. 3- Among the stationed troops, those attached and assigned from outside the region, whose orders specify a start and end date. 4- Some residents who meet the conditions for leading prayer may be tasked with leading, but they find it difficult to shorten and combine prayers. I hope Your Eminence will issue a comprehensive fatwa covering all of the above to inform them, and may Allah bless your life and assist you.
After the Committee’s study of the inquiry, it answered as follows:
First: Those among the stationed troops who are originally residents of the Jazan region are not entitled to any of the dispensations of travel, unless their units move a distance of shortening, which is eighty kilometers or more, in which case they may avail themselves of the dispensations of travel. Second: Those among the stationed troops who came from outside the Jazan region and are still participating at the borders, with no set end to their work, are considered travelers; they may shorten and combine prayers when necessary. The Friday prayer is not obligatory upon them, and if they pray the Friday prayer with the people of the nearby towns, it is valid for them as followers of the other residents. Third: Those among the stationed troops from outside the region whose stay is limited: if the limited stay is four days or less, they are travelers and may avail themselves of the dispensations of travel; if the stay is more than four days, they may not avail themselves of the dispensations of travel, and their ruling is that of residents. Fourth: If a resident leads travelers in prayer, it is obligatory for him to pray the prayer of a resident; it is not permissible for him to shorten or combine. Those among the travelers who pray behind him must complete the prayer, because one who prays behind a resident imam must complete the prayer. However, if a traveler leads the people, he may shorten
and it is obligatory for the residents behind him to complete the prayer after their imam’s taslim.
Al-Sheikh, with number (2/10/1829) and date 30/3/1431 AH, and referred to the Committee by the General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Scholars with number (493) and date 1/4/1431 AH. He asked a question, the text of which is: Given the current calm in the situation, we request the issuance of a detailed fatwa regarding: (the Friday prayer, shortening and combining prayers, and completing the prayers), taking into account the following matters: 1- Among the stationed troops, those who are originally residents of the Jazan region and whose units are fixed in the Jazan force, whether their unit moves to participate in the front line or not. 2- Among the stationed troops, military units that came from some regions of the Kingdom and are still participating, with no known time for their return. 3- Among the stationed troops, those attached and assigned from outside the region, whose orders specify a start and end date. 4- Some residents who meet the conditions for leading prayer may be tasked with leading, but they find it difficult to shorten and combine prayers. I hope Your Eminence will issue a comprehensive fatwa covering all of the above to inform them, and may Allah bless your life and assist you.
After the Committee’s study of the inquiry, it answered as follows:
First: Those among the stationed troops who are originally residents of the Jazan region are not entitled to any of the dispensations of travel, unless their units move a distance of shortening, which is eighty kilometers or more, in which case they may avail themselves of the dispensations of travel. Second: Those among the stationed troops who came from outside the Jazan region and are still participating at the borders, with no set end to their work, are considered travelers; they may shorten and combine prayers when necessary. The Friday prayer is not obligatory upon them, and if they pray the Friday prayer with the people of the nearby towns, it is valid for them as followers of the other residents. Third: Those among the stationed troops from outside the region whose stay is limited: if the limited stay is four days or less, they are travelers and may avail themselves of the dispensations of travel; if the stay is more than four days, they may not avail themselves of the dispensations of travel, and their ruling is that of residents. Fourth: If a resident leads travelers in prayer, it is obligatory for him to pray the prayer of a resident; it is not permissible for him to shorten or combine. Those among the travelers who pray behind him must complete the prayer, because one who prays behind a resident imam must complete the prayer. However, if a traveler leads the people, he may shorten
and it is obligatory for the residents behind him to complete the prayer after their imam’s taslim.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.