Combining the Prayers
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Question: I perform the prayer according to its principles, but my school schedule conflicts with my prayer times, and I am only allowed to pray the Fajr, Maghrib, and Isha prayers. As for the Dhuhr and Asr, I do not have enough time to pray them until after I return from school. Can I combine them with the Maghrib prayer, and is there a sin on me
for not praying the Dhuhr and Asr? Please advise us, may Allah reward you.
Answer: As for what you mentioned regarding your preservation of the prayer, this is something for which you are to be praised, and we ask Allah, Mighty and Majestic, to increase you in it. Preserving the prayer is among the most important obligations, because the prayer is the pillar of Islam,And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: [al-Baqarah: 238] ,And Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: [Al-Mu’minun: 9-11] ,And Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: [Al-Ma’arij: 34, 35] , and preserving the prayer is a sign of faith. Whoever preserves his prayer preserves his religion. The first thing for which a servant will be held accountable on the Day of Resurrection is his prayer. If he is faithful in it, he will be faithful and preserving in the rest of his religious affairs.
Preserving the prayer means: Preserving its performance in the times prescribed by Allah the Exalted,Allah the Exalted said: [An-Nisa: 103] , so among the most important aspects of preserving the prayer is that it is performed in its times. And among the most beloved deeds to Allah, Glorified and Exalted, is the prayer at its time. A Muslim does not prioritize anything from the works of this world over his prayer, because the prayer has precedence in the Muslim’s work, and its time is reserved; it is not permissible to occupy it with anything else,Allah the Exalted said in praising the believers: [An-Nur: 37] ,And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Jumu’ah: 9, 10] , and even in the most severe situations for
Muslims, which is the state of fear and facing the enemy, they must pray the prayer in its time, even if they are in a state of confrontation with the enemy,And this is mentioned in the Noble Qur'an: [An-Nisa: 102] , this is in the state of fear,And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah: 238, 239] , meaning pray while you are walking or while you are riding if you are in a state of fear, and you are being pursued by your enemy, and you fear him, and you are fleeing from him when the time for prayer arrives.
So the Muslim prays according to his condition, and does not delay the prayer beyond its time. It is obligatory for everyone to pray the prayers in their times, and that worldly works, jobs, studies, or any other work do not occupy them from performing the prayer in its time.
And performing the prayer in its time does not take up much of a person’s time, nor does it occupy him from seeking sustenance; rather, it helps him in that.
So it is obligatory for you to pray the Dhuhr in its time, and the Asr in its time, in the place of work, by preparing a place where you can pray the Dhuhr in its time and the Asr in its time, while you are in study or while you are at work. And it is obligatory for the Muslim rulers, and those in charge of education, and others in Muslim affairs, to account for the prayer and allow students or their employees to perform the prayer in its times without occupying them from it. This is the obligation for Muslims in general, and specifically for their rulers and officials; because without this, the religion will not be complete
and will not be valid, and consequently, the Muslims will have no honor or status, neither in this world nor in the Hereafter, except by preserving this religion, especially the prayer which is the pillar of Islam. So we find no excuse for you in performing the prayer other than in its time.
As for what you mentioned regarding whether it is permissible to combine the Dhuhr and Asr with the Maghrib? This is not permissible by the consensus of the Muslims. It is not permissible to combine the Dhuhr and Asr with the Maghrib.
The Maghrib is only combined with the Isha prayer in the case of a legal excuse. As for the Dhuhr and Asr, they are not combined with the Maghrib under any circumstances. And you are not among those with excuses who are permitted to combine; because the excuse of study, or the excuse of work, is not an excuse that permits combining.
for not praying the Dhuhr and Asr? Please advise us, may Allah reward you.
Answer: As for what you mentioned regarding your preservation of the prayer, this is something for which you are to be praised, and we ask Allah, Mighty and Majestic, to increase you in it. Preserving the prayer is among the most important obligations, because the prayer is the pillar of Islam,And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:
Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer
حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَى(9) And they who carefully maintain their prayers - (10) Those are the inheritors (11) Who will inherit al-Firdaus. They will abide therein eternally.
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَى صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْوَارِثُونَ الَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ(34) And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer: (35) They will be in gardens, honored.
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَى صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ أُولَئِكَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ مُكْرَمُونَPreserving the prayer means: Preserving its performance in the times prescribed by Allah the Exalted,Allah the Exalted said:
Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَوْقُوتًا[Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving of zakah
رِجَالٌ لَا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ(9) O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew. (10) And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often that you may succeed.
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانْتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِ اللَّهِMuslims, which is the state of fear and facing the enemy, they must pray the prayer in its time, even if they are in a state of confrontation with the enemy,And this is mentioned in the Noble Qur'an:
And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms.
وَإِذَا كُنْتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلَاةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا فَلْيَكُونُوا مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَائِفَةٌ أُخْرَى لَمْ يُصَلُّوا فَلْيُصَلُّوا مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ(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
حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَى وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالًا أَوْ رُكْبَانًاSo the Muslim prays according to his condition, and does not delay the prayer beyond its time. It is obligatory for everyone to pray the prayers in their times, and that worldly works, jobs, studies, or any other work do not occupy them from performing the prayer in its time.
And performing the prayer in its time does not take up much of a person’s time, nor does it occupy him from seeking sustenance; rather, it helps him in that.
So it is obligatory for you to pray the Dhuhr in its time, and the Asr in its time, in the place of work, by preparing a place where you can pray the Dhuhr in its time and the Asr in its time, while you are in study or while you are at work. And it is obligatory for the Muslim rulers, and those in charge of education, and others in Muslim affairs, to account for the prayer and allow students or their employees to perform the prayer in its times without occupying them from it. This is the obligation for Muslims in general, and specifically for their rulers and officials; because without this, the religion will not be complete
and will not be valid, and consequently, the Muslims will have no honor or status, neither in this world nor in the Hereafter, except by preserving this religion, especially the prayer which is the pillar of Islam. So we find no excuse for you in performing the prayer other than in its time.
As for what you mentioned regarding whether it is permissible to combine the Dhuhr and Asr with the Maghrib? This is not permissible by the consensus of the Muslims. It is not permissible to combine the Dhuhr and Asr with the Maghrib.
The Maghrib is only combined with the Isha prayer in the case of a legal excuse. As for the Dhuhr and Asr, they are not combined with the Maghrib under any circumstances. And you are not among those with excuses who are permitted to combine; because the excuse of study, or the excuse of work, is not an excuse that permits combining.