Is the guard of the Islamic center excused for being late to the congregational prayer?

The questioner : Some of the guards at the mosques and centers, they arrive, but the prayer ends before they get there to pray.

The Shaykh : Guards for what?

The questioner : Guarding the Islamic center, they are standing there but they do not pray. I mean, they are careful about the mosque, Shaykh, or the place where they are, so that, for example, no one with malicious intent or something comes and does something while you are praying, so that they can enter and pray.

The Shaykh : Like rice.

The questioner : It is a place, for example, like the Islamic Center Association, which has a school or a college. It is fenced and has, I mean, a special image, and there is a guard at the door. So when the people finish the prayer, he starts praying here.

The Shaykh : Okay, if he locks the door, what happens?

The questioner : With every flavor. This is what the Shaykh said. I mean, the reality is, for example, he locks the door. The matter is done. But I am asking about his prayer, I mean. That the mosque...

The Shaykh : Yes, he is asking you. I want to know if he has an excuse or if he does not have an excuse.

The questioner : Let us see, Brother Ali, I mean, on this matter. Shaykh, they consider that people might sneak in or place explosives or, I mean, steal some things, and especially since this is an outside room, the room where this man stands is outside the center, and especially there are also buses, so one person might mess with any bus, and there is nothing to lock them, so someone must be standing. What?

The Shaykh : The bus is not inside.

The questioner : No, no, no, no, no, no, no, may Allah preserve you. Outside, how outside? Outside once, outside, no problem, it has no door. No, it has no door, it has everything. Okay, to a big door, to a big door, and we lock it all. Shh.

The Shaykh : The important thing is that we are asking this question because we cannot say it is permissible or not permissible until we know the reality. So if this guard is in a place that has a door, and the door is open, and he is the guard in front of it, he can lock it with the key and go pray and come back, this is not an excuse. But if there is no door and he goes out. I am answering like this or like that, I am not doing an investigation to see...

The questioner : If there is a door or not?

The Shaykh : That is it, but we are asking to know how the answer is. If there is a door and he has the key, it is not permissible for him to be late for the congregational prayer; rather, he should lock it and go pray, then return. And if there is no door and he fears that those harms might occur, then it is an excuse for him. Yes.

The questioner : And we, Shaykh, are also greeting you.

The Shaykh : Peace be upon you.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : Welcome, if Allah wills.

The questioner : Even the Shaykh rests. If the Shaykh was better, he would ask if you want him.

The Shaykh : Oh Allah.

The questioner : He is present for this, I mean. Praise be to Allah. His wife. Remove it, remove it. How many days? May Allah guide them.

The Shaykh : Since you have a car, what is rushing you?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : If you were stuck on the plane, we would say you are excused, but...

The questioner : In my opinion.

The Shaykh : The car is at your command.

The questioner : No, there is no car, it is not us. The owner of the car. The owner of the car is in the country today. He is waiting for his car. The owner of the car is in the country there, so he starts giving us a date, that for example we will not be late for such a date or something.

The Shaykh : Yes. It is for rent. Rent. Yes. You can call him on the phone and say, but let him know, he wants.

The questioner : If Allah wills. Okay, Shaykh, may Allah reward you with good. Welcome. We hear regarding Ahmad. Yes, we alerted, what, yes, it came out quickly for him.

The Shaykh : And not once, if Allah wills. Regarding you.

The questioner : And Glory is to You, O Allah, and Praise, I testify that there is no deity but You.

The Shaykh : I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.