Security Patrols and the Friday Prayer
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Fatwa No. ( 14882 )
Q: We are military personnel who perform our duty as security patrols in the neighborhoods and markets. Sometimes our work coincides with the time of prayer and the adhan is called. What is your opinion, should we pray with the congregation, or should we wait for the worshippers to leave the mosque and the market owner to return to his market, and everyone to return to their work, and then we perform the prayer afterwards ; out of fear that thieves and vandals and others might take advantage of the prayer time?
A: It is obligatory for you to perform the Friday prayer in the nearest mosque to you after the final adhan that is called when the imam enters to deliver the sermon, unless there is a danger that disrupts the mission entrusted to you for maintaining security. In that case, there is no blame on you for leaving the Friday prayer and the congregation, and instead performing the Zuhr prayer in place of Friday, and praying alone as a congregation after finishing the prayer, in order to preserve the public interest and out of caution regarding the general danger. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Q: We are military personnel who perform our duty as security patrols in the neighborhoods and markets. Sometimes our work coincides with the time of prayer and the adhan is called. What is your opinion, should we pray with the congregation, or should we wait for the worshippers to leave the mosque and the market owner to return to his market, and everyone to return to their work, and then we perform the prayer afterwards ; out of fear that thieves and vandals and others might take advantage of the prayer time?
A: It is obligatory for you to perform the Friday prayer in the nearest mosque to you after the final adhan that is called when the imam enters to deliver the sermon, unless there is a danger that disrupts the mission entrusted to you for maintaining security. In that case, there is no blame on you for leaving the Friday prayer and the congregation, and instead performing the Zuhr prayer in place of Friday, and praying alone as a congregation after finishing the prayer, in order to preserve the public interest and out of caution regarding the general danger. And 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.