Is it permissible to delay the congregation of the company's mosque in order to catch the iftar there?
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The questioner : We work with a French company, and the iftar is held in its cafeteria. The number of people exceeds three thousand, and entry is through a single door for the sake of order, which takes at least an hour. So, is it permissible for the Muslim to determine the time for the iqamah of the Maghrib prayer and hasten the iftar?
The Shaykh : The question is not clear. What does "determine" mean? The time of Maghrib is fixed by the Shari'ah, and the determination is not with the precision that requires a man to adhere to it. For example, the time of Maghrib extends for at least an hour, so what does it mean? Yes. Listen to what you are saying; it causes confusion. What am I saying? Is it not about the determination?
The questioner : He says determining the time for the iqamah of the Maghrib prayer and hastening the iftar.
The Shaykh : He saysThe questioner : It is present here. Yes, the time of Maghrib is known to be between Maghrib and Isha. Do you mean by the word "determine" here, for example, that the time of Maghrib entered at seven, so they determine that they will pray Maghrib at seven thirty? Is that what is intended by the question, or is there nothing else?
The questioner : He prays first and does not break his fast... the intended meaning is... he misses the congregational prayer.
The Shaykh : You are saying in a French company, what congregation do you mean? Now you are saying he misses the congregational prayer.
The questioner : Only the Maghrib congregation.
The Shaykh : The company's congregation or the mosque's congregation?
The questioner : The company's, I mean.
The Shaykh : Okay, does the company have a mosque?
The questioner : Yes, it has a mosque.
The Shaykh : A public mosque or a mosque specific to the company? Okay.
The questioner : No, a regular mosque specific to the company... He gets up from the iftar or... the prayer.
The Shaykh : You have gone too far. Leave the company for now. We are here, everyone is in his home, in his place, and so on. What is the Sunnah? The Sunnah is to break the fast with dates, then go to the mosque, and after the prayer, return to have dinner until he is almost full. Can this system not be applied in the company? He breaks his fast with dates or a few bites, then goes to the company's mosque and prays. Is there a problem with this?
The questioner: No.
The Shaykh : If the question is why.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : He breaks his fast because he wants to be full. We say the Sunnah is not to eat until one is full and miss the prayer, but to combine the two matters. He breaks his fast with a sip of water if it is not available to him, then goes and prays, then returns and breaks his fast. Is the problem solved this way or not?
The questioner : The iftar is collective.
The Shaykh : My brother, this iftar is for being full.
The Shaykh : The question is not clear. What does "determine" mean? The time of Maghrib is fixed by the Shari'ah, and the determination is not with the precision that requires a man to adhere to it. For example, the time of Maghrib extends for at least an hour, so what does it mean? Yes. Listen to what you are saying; it causes confusion. What am I saying? Is it not about the determination?
The questioner : He says determining the time for the iqamah of the Maghrib prayer and hastening the iftar.
The Shaykh : He saysThe questioner : It is present here. Yes, the time of Maghrib is known to be between Maghrib and Isha. Do you mean by the word "determine" here, for example, that the time of Maghrib entered at seven, so they determine that they will pray Maghrib at seven thirty? Is that what is intended by the question, or is there nothing else?
The questioner : He prays first and does not break his fast... the intended meaning is... he misses the congregational prayer.
The Shaykh : You are saying in a French company, what congregation do you mean? Now you are saying he misses the congregational prayer.
The questioner : Only the Maghrib congregation.
The Shaykh : The company's congregation or the mosque's congregation?
The questioner : The company's, I mean.
The Shaykh : Okay, does the company have a mosque?
The questioner : Yes, it has a mosque.
The Shaykh : A public mosque or a mosque specific to the company? Okay.
The questioner : No, a regular mosque specific to the company... He gets up from the iftar or... the prayer.
The Shaykh : You have gone too far. Leave the company for now. We are here, everyone is in his home, in his place, and so on. What is the Sunnah? The Sunnah is to break the fast with dates, then go to the mosque, and after the prayer, return to have dinner until he is almost full. Can this system not be applied in the company? He breaks his fast with dates or a few bites, then goes to the company's mosque and prays. Is there a problem with this?
The questioner: No.
The Shaykh : If the question is why.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : He breaks his fast because he wants to be full. We say the Sunnah is not to eat until one is full and miss the prayer, but to combine the two matters. He breaks his fast with a sip of water if it is not available to him, then goes and prays, then returns and breaks his fast. Is the problem solved this way or not?
The questioner : The iftar is collective.
The Shaykh : My brother, this iftar is for being full.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.