Studying medicine: does it justify combining prayers?
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The first question of Fatwa No. ( 18074 )
Q 1: We are studying human medicine, and as is clear to everyone, the study of medicine involves a great deal of difficulty. Time is very tight, which sometimes forces us to combine two prayers in one, such as praying Zuhr and 'Asr together at the time of 'Asr, or even at the time of Maghrib, due to the lack of time or a suitable place to pray?
A 1: It is obligatory for you to perform every prayer in its proper time, and it is not permissible for you to delay it or combine it with the one before or after it. Your ruling, given the circumstances you described, is that of a resident, not a traveler. The excuses you mentioned do not permit you
to delay the prayer from its time. It is obligatory for a Muslim to perform the prayer in its time as long as he is of sound mind, except that a dispensation was granted to the traveler to combine Zuhr and 'Asr, and Maghrib and 'Isha', either by advancing or delaying, according to what is most convenient for his situation. Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:103], meaning: as an obligatory duty specified by a time. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified their times and warned against delaying them beyond those times. He (peace and blessings be upon him) was careful to perform them in their times, even in the most critical times and the most severe circumstances, such as the state of jihad in the path of Allah, in compliance with the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Baqarah 2:238-239]. You must repent to Allah the Exalted for the negligence you have committed by delaying the prayer from its time without a valid legal excuse, and you must strive in the future to perform it in the times clarified by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Indeed, the prayer is the most important pillar of Islam after the two testimonies. You must strive to gain knowledge of the religion and ask trusted scholars about what is difficult for you.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q 1: We are studying human medicine, and as is clear to everyone, the study of medicine involves a great deal of difficulty. Time is very tight, which sometimes forces us to combine two prayers in one, such as praying Zuhr and 'Asr together at the time of 'Asr, or even at the time of Maghrib, due to the lack of time or a suitable place to pray?
A 1: It is obligatory for you to perform every prayer in its proper time, and it is not permissible for you to delay it or combine it with the one before or after it. Your ruling, given the circumstances you described, is that of a resident, not a traveler. The excuses you mentioned do not permit you
to delay the prayer from its time. It is obligatory for a Muslim to perform the prayer in its time as long as he is of sound mind, except that a dispensation was granted to the traveler to combine Zuhr and 'Asr, and Maghrib and 'Isha', either by advancing or delaying, according to what is most convenient for his situation. Allah the Exalted said:
Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
إِنَّ الصَّلاَةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَوْقُوتًا(238) Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient. (239) And if you fear [an enemy, then pray] on foot or riding. But when you are secure, then remember Allah [in prayer], as He has taught you that which you did not [previously] know.
حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ (238) فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالا أَوْ رُكْبَانًا فَإِذَا أَمِنْتُمْ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَمَا عَلَّمَكُمْ مَا لَمْ تَكُونُوا تَعْلَمُونَAnd success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.