What is the ruling on praying in a bus while it is moving?
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The questioner : I travel by bus to Saudi Arabia, and I was told that I heard scholars in Saudi Arabia say: It is permissible for you to pray while sitting in the bus while it is moving. I also heard people say that when the bus stops, meaning during the intervals, people stop to relieve themselves and buy things. So he said: No, you should get down and pray standing during these times when it stops. We want you to clarify this matter for us.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that—no, don’t be ridiculous, my brother—there is no doubt that the answer of those who said: Get down and pray, is the truth in which there is no doubt, provided that your question is about the obligatory prayer, is it not? Your question is about the obligatory prayer.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : The obligatory prayer on a mount is not permissible except in a case of dire necessity, such as one who rides in an airplane and the airplane does not land at an airport where the passenger is able to get down and pray. But if the situation is as you mentioned, that this vehicle stops at some stations and the passenger is able to pray with standing, bowing, and prostration, then this is the obligatory duty, and it is not permissible to do otherwise. Perhaps those who heard the opinion of the permissibility of praying in the car mean if the car continues its journey and does not stop at a station where the passenger is able to pray in it with bowing and prostration. I say: Perhaps this is their intention. If their intention is that it is permissible for you to pray in the car even if there is a station, this is an error in which there is no doubt.
The questioner : He says: Meaning he is talking about people who say this is a recommended practice, why do you leave it? Do it, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)
The Shaykh : What is the recommended practice?
The questioner : That he was riding.
The Shaykh : The recommended practice? The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not pray an obligatory prayer, my brother, while riding. He prayed the voluntary prayers, yes.
The questioner : My Shaykh, we call the adhan for Maghrib and we pray.
The Shaykh : Come on, the time has come.
The questioner : Shaykh, if the people issued a ruling on that.
The Shaykh : What do you mean?
The questioner : If the people issued a ruling on that.
The Shaykh : If he issued a ruling to them with knowledge, it is permissible; otherwise, it is not permissible.
The questioner : On the basis that he is a mufti following the Hanafi school of jurisprudence.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : A mufti following the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, meaning.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible for him to issue rulings based on following a scholar without knowing his evidence; rather, it must be based on following the evidence.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that—no, don’t be ridiculous, my brother—there is no doubt that the answer of those who said: Get down and pray, is the truth in which there is no doubt, provided that your question is about the obligatory prayer, is it not? Your question is about the obligatory prayer.
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : The obligatory prayer on a mount is not permissible except in a case of dire necessity, such as one who rides in an airplane and the airplane does not land at an airport where the passenger is able to get down and pray. But if the situation is as you mentioned, that this vehicle stops at some stations and the passenger is able to pray with standing, bowing, and prostration, then this is the obligatory duty, and it is not permissible to do otherwise. Perhaps those who heard the opinion of the permissibility of praying in the car mean if the car continues its journey and does not stop at a station where the passenger is able to pray in it with bowing and prostration. I say: Perhaps this is their intention. If their intention is that it is permissible for you to pray in the car even if there is a station, this is an error in which there is no doubt.
The questioner : He says: Meaning he is talking about people who say this is a recommended practice, why do you leave it? Do it, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)
The Shaykh : What is the recommended practice?
The questioner : That he was riding.
The Shaykh : The recommended practice? The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not pray an obligatory prayer, my brother, while riding. He prayed the voluntary prayers, yes.
The questioner : My Shaykh, we call the adhan for Maghrib and we pray.
The Shaykh : Come on, the time has come.
The questioner : Shaykh, if the people issued a ruling on that.
The Shaykh : What do you mean?
The questioner : If the people issued a ruling on that.
The Shaykh : If he issued a ruling to them with knowledge, it is permissible; otherwise, it is not permissible.
The questioner : On the basis that he is a mufti following the Hanafi school of jurisprudence.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : A mufti following the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, meaning.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible for him to issue rulings based on following a scholar without knowing his evidence; rather, it must be based on following the evidence.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.