What if he feared that his effort in seeking evidence for the qiblah would cause the time to expire?

The questioner : The difficulty of the etiquette, and if it is possible for him, it is obligatory except if he seeks it himself. Yes. The speech, O Shaykh, if the time is nearly over and it does not end.

The Shaykh : If the time becomes tight.

The questioner : And if he asks the people, or asks, "What direction do you pray?"

The Shaykh : He asks, he asks, he asks.

The questioner : Even if they leave.

The Shaykh : Yes, that is right, meaning he did not have the time to learn. If he did not find anyone and the time became tight for him, he prays in whatever direction he is facing. I mean, if he did not find anyone to ask and he feared the time would expire while he did not know how to determine the direction, he prays in whatever direction he is facing?

The questioner : If he went to ask, the time would expire, but if they were available.

The Shaykh : He does not ask as long as he fears the time will expire. We have told you repeatedly and again, preserving the time is above everything. For this reason, the one who does not find water and does not find earth prays without water or earth, and the one who finds what covers his 'awrah covers it, and the one who does not find it prays naked, and the one who is able to pray standing prays standing, and if he is not able, he prays sitting, even if he knows that after the time expires he will be able to stand. The important thing is that the time takes precedence over everything.