If a student is taking an exam and one of the prayers is called, and he cannot leave because he is in an exam; is this considered a valid legal excuse?

The questioner : A student is taking an exam and a prayer is called, or one of the prayers is called, and he cannot leave because he is taking an exam; is this considered a valid legal excuse or not?

The Shaykh : A valid legal excuse for not attending?

The questioner : Not attending the prayer.

The Shaykh : This is similar to when the curriculum is deviant from the Shari'ah, in which case one should not adhere to working with this curriculum or be bound by it, for in that case he would be contradicting the Shari'ah. If the reality is like this, then we say: either you leave this curriculum, or you consider your current situation a dire necessity for you; so you pray either by combining prayers, or you pray each prayer individually in its time.

The questioner : Does that mean he is sinful for it?

The Shaykh : It depends on the curriculum; because the curriculum is wrong, and what is built upon a wrong thing is wrong; therefore, we do not encourage working with such curricula. Sometimes they cancel the Friday prayer!

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Yes!