A man works as an observer in an observation tower, and sometimes his work prevents him from performing the prayer at its time. What should be done?
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The questioner : A man works in an observation tower at the airport, and sometimes...
The Shaykh : Observing what?
The questioner : Observing airplanes in the observation tower, and sometimes the work shift coincides with the time of prayer. If he leaves his work to pray, it may cause the death of hundreds of airplane passengers. What is the solution, given that the time for the prayer will end?
The Shaykh : If this situation is not like the previous one, which I consider hypothetical, but is a real situation, then we say to such an observer that it is obligatory for him to prepare for his work before... In such a situation, which I consider hypothetical, if it is real, he must prepare for it such that he combines the two prayers and does not delay them beyond their time in this manner. Combining the two prayers for a resident is a matter in which Allah has granted the Muslims a dispensation, as came in the hadith of 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father), in which he said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) combined the Dhuhr and 'Asr prayers in Madinah..."
The Shaykh : Observing what?
The questioner : Observing airplanes in the observation tower, and sometimes the work shift coincides with the time of prayer. If he leaves his work to pray, it may cause the death of hundreds of airplane passengers. What is the solution, given that the time for the prayer will end?
The Shaykh : If this situation is not like the previous one, which I consider hypothetical, but is a real situation, then we say to such an observer that it is obligatory for him to prepare for his work before... In such a situation, which I consider hypothetical, if it is real, he must prepare for it such that he combines the two prayers and does not delay them beyond their time in this manner. Combining the two prayers for a resident is a matter in which Allah has granted the Muslims a dispensation, as came in the hadith of 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father), in which he said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) combined the Dhuhr and 'Asr prayers in Madinah..."