What is the ruling on combining prayers in centers, institutions, or government offices?
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The questioner : What is the ruling on combining two prayers, between Dhuhr and Asr, in a center, an institution, or a government office?
The Shaykh : ... In a place where the ruling of congregational prayer does not apply in this recording, if you record it... Combining in a place where the ruling of congregational prayer does not apply in that place: if the congregation in that place is obligatory, then combining is permissible. If the congregation in that place is not obligatory, then regarding the non-obligatory, one might say it is not permissible, and those who combine there would be sinners. Or they are not sinners; their combining is permissible but not obligatory. So, combining is with the congregation and the obligatory one. This is, in my opinion, clear, but it needs more clarification and explanation with a simple example. Combining in one of the companies, in one of the rooms there. Now, I am applying the point I summarized earlier, which I said was clear but needs clarification. The congregational prayer in this company: is it permissible or not permissible? If it is not permissible, then combining is not permissible, clear? We move to the other detail: the prayer in that company is permissible. So we say, if it is permissible, is it obligatory or not obligatory? If it is obligatory, then combining applies. If it is not obligatory, but merely permissible, then combining is not obligatory. This point also needs explanation, so I say: when is the congregation obligatory in that company, and when is it not? I say: if there is no nearby mosque where the normal adhan is heard, not with a loudspeaker, meaning it is not far from them such that if the mu'adhdhin called from the roof of the mosque, they would not hear his adhan. If they can hear the adhan of a mosque like that, then their congregational prayer in the company is not permissible, because they neglected the obligatory response to Allah's call. If there is no mosque around them, then in that case, their congregational prayer in the company is obligatory, and consequently, their combining is permissible. Is this clear up to here?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Is this clear up to here?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Listen, because there is one last thing. If combining requires the employees to go out into the open air, into the sun, into the cold, into the snow, or the like, then they combine. Otherwise, they do not. For example, some government offices where they move from room to room to room, and they do not go out into the open air at all, nor are they exposed to cold, rain, or anything. Let us assume their congregational prayer is of the permissible type because they do not have a nearby mosque. These people are not permitted to combine, because what is the purpose of combining? The purpose is to achieve the obligation of congregation by alleviating the hardship of exposure to rain, snow, cold, or the like. These people are not in that situation. If you look at this set of conditions, you will then know when combining is possible in a company or office and when it is not. I think this was in your mind from the question. Did it fall? Did it fall?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : This is the outcome for the patient.
The Shaykh : ... In a place where the ruling of congregational prayer does not apply in this recording, if you record it... Combining in a place where the ruling of congregational prayer does not apply in that place: if the congregation in that place is obligatory, then combining is permissible. If the congregation in that place is not obligatory, then regarding the non-obligatory, one might say it is not permissible, and those who combine there would be sinners. Or they are not sinners; their combining is permissible but not obligatory. So, combining is with the congregation and the obligatory one. This is, in my opinion, clear, but it needs more clarification and explanation with a simple example. Combining in one of the companies, in one of the rooms there. Now, I am applying the point I summarized earlier, which I said was clear but needs clarification. The congregational prayer in this company: is it permissible or not permissible? If it is not permissible, then combining is not permissible, clear? We move to the other detail: the prayer in that company is permissible. So we say, if it is permissible, is it obligatory or not obligatory? If it is obligatory, then combining applies. If it is not obligatory, but merely permissible, then combining is not obligatory. This point also needs explanation, so I say: when is the congregation obligatory in that company, and when is it not? I say: if there is no nearby mosque where the normal adhan is heard, not with a loudspeaker, meaning it is not far from them such that if the mu'adhdhin called from the roof of the mosque, they would not hear his adhan. If they can hear the adhan of a mosque like that, then their congregational prayer in the company is not permissible, because they neglected the obligatory response to Allah's call. If there is no mosque around them, then in that case, their congregational prayer in the company is obligatory, and consequently, their combining is permissible. Is this clear up to here?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Is this clear up to here?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : Listen, because there is one last thing. If combining requires the employees to go out into the open air, into the sun, into the cold, into the snow, or the like, then they combine. Otherwise, they do not. For example, some government offices where they move from room to room to room, and they do not go out into the open air at all, nor are they exposed to cold, rain, or anything. Let us assume their congregational prayer is of the permissible type because they do not have a nearby mosque. These people are not permitted to combine, because what is the purpose of combining? The purpose is to achieve the obligation of congregation by alleviating the hardship of exposure to rain, snow, cold, or the like. These people are not in that situation. If you look at this set of conditions, you will then know when combining is possible in a company or office and when it is not. I think this was in your mind from the question. Did it fall? Did it fall?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : This is the outcome for the patient.
Source
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