If the time for prayer arrives and a person is in the presence of food, should he get up to pray or finish eating his food?
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The questioner : From Iraq, Tarmiyah Governorate, a listener whose name is symbolized by the letters D-M-S says: If the time for prayer arrives and a person is in the presence of food, should he get up to pray or finish eating his food?
The Shaykh : If the iqamah is called and a person is at his food, he may finish it, and he does not sin if the prayer is missed in this situation, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)Sahih al-Bukhari 672 Likewise, if he is present for dinner or lunch and then the adhan is called or the iqamah is called, there is no blame on the person if he eats and then proceeds to his prayer. And if the prayer is missed in this situation, he does not sin, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) Riyad as-Salihin 1753 However, it is not befitting for a person to make that a habit for himself, such that his lunchtime and dinnertime coincide with the time of prayer, because that leads to missing the prayer by his own choice. But if it happens that the food is served when the iqamah is called, then the food is served in this situation.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : If the iqamah is called and a person is at his food, he may finish it, and he does not sin if the prayer is missed in this situation, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
If the supper is served start having it before praying
إذا قدِّم العشاء فابدؤوا به قبل الصلاةNo Salat (prayer) should be performed when the food has been served, nor should it be performed when a person is in need of relieving himself.
لا صلاة بحضرة طعام ولا وهو يُدافعه الأخبثانThe questioner : Very well.