In some schools in Kuwait, remedial classes are held for students on this day, causing the students to miss the Zuhr prayer. Is this considered delaying the prayer?
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The questioner : Shaykh, there is a question regarding teaching. In some schools in Kuwait, remedial classes are held for students. On this day, the failing students miss the Zuhr prayer. Is this considered, from one aspect, delaying the prayer? The hadith says, meaning, the students are forced to stay late for an extra lesson, and consequently they do not pray Zuhr at its proper time?
The Shaykh : Why? How long is the lesson?
The questioner : Forty-five minutes.
Another questioner: An hour and a quarter.
The Shaykh : Between Zuhr and 'Asr, there is a long time that can accommodate the prayer. So why did they miss the prayer?
The questioner : The time does not pass.
Another questioner: Or the congregation.
The questioner : The mosque congregation in the schools.
The Shaykh : Do you mean the congregation? And the congregation is held in...
The questioner : The schools.
The Shaykh : The schools?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Not in the mosques?
The questioner : No, in the schools, there are mosques.
The Shaykh : Yes, and is this by their choice and control, or against their will?
Another questioner: No, it is by their choice.
The Shaykh : We are asking here, and we ask that we maintain order. So, what does the questioner mean? If you do not know, ask the questioner what he means? By his choice?
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : So, this is not permissible, naturally, right?
Another questioner: How can the student be by his choice?
The Shaykh : Are you debating me? Debate the one who says...
The questioner : We are now.
The Shaykh : We are, and in any case.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : I am explaining the issue, and I say, with as much brevity as possible, that the congregational prayer is obligatory, just like the prayer itself. I do not want to delve into its evidence; we are content with the statement of our Lord, Blessed and Exalted is He:[Al-Baqarah 2:43] He commanded the establishment of the prayer, in which He said: that it be prayed with the bowing congregation. And He meant by His statement: [Al-Baqarah 2:43] So the congregational prayer is obligatory, just like the prayer itself. Of course, this is without a valid religious excuse. If one has an excuse, that has a different ruling, and we are not currently addressing that. If the student, or if the students, are able to establish the congregational prayer but they leave it and turn away from it and set it aside, then they are abandoning an obligation, and one who abandons an obligation has certainly sinned, without doubt. However, if they are unable to pray this congregational prayer, I say that perhaps they are excused. And I mean what I say: perhaps they are excused. This is because it was supposed to be upon them, or at least upon their fathers, to demand that the school administration obligate the students to maintain the congregational prayer, just as they obligate them to attend the lesson classes. Every Muslim knows that these lessons which students today strive to acquire are not individual obligations, but rather collective obligations. So if the matter comes down to a Muslim, and here the student of knowledge, if the matter comes down to performing the collective obligation and neglecting the individual obligation, this is not permissible. Rather, the correct course is to maintain the individual obligation and not to concern oneself with the collective obligation, as long as there are others performing it. So, combining between the two obligations, the individual obligation and the collective obligation, it is supposed that the authorities, or the closest to that, the fathers, should demand that the teachers urge the students to maintain the congregational prayer at all times of the Sunnah, whether there is an exam or not.
In short, it is obligatory for students to strive to perform the congregational prayer as much as they are able. So, if one has a valid religious excuse, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is the One who knows the truth of his case: whether he is excused or not. Now, I cannot say that this student is excused or not excused. But the ruling is that it is obligatory for students, whether in their homes or in their schools, to maintain the congregational prayer. If the school system does not help them in that, they must demand that the authorities pay attention to establishing this congregational prayer at the time of prayer.
The Shaykh : Why? How long is the lesson?
The questioner : Forty-five minutes.
Another questioner: An hour and a quarter.
The Shaykh : Between Zuhr and 'Asr, there is a long time that can accommodate the prayer. So why did they miss the prayer?
The questioner : The time does not pass.
Another questioner: Or the congregation.
The questioner : The mosque congregation in the schools.
The Shaykh : Do you mean the congregation? And the congregation is held in...
The questioner : The schools.
The Shaykh : The schools?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Not in the mosques?
The questioner : No, in the schools, there are mosques.
The Shaykh : Yes, and is this by their choice and control, or against their will?
Another questioner: No, it is by their choice.
The Shaykh : We are asking here, and we ask that we maintain order. So, what does the questioner mean? If you do not know, ask the questioner what he means? By his choice?
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : So, this is not permissible, naturally, right?
Another questioner: How can the student be by his choice?
The Shaykh : Are you debating me? Debate the one who says...
The questioner : We are now.
The Shaykh : We are, and in any case.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : I am explaining the issue, and I say, with as much brevity as possible, that the congregational prayer is obligatory, just like the prayer itself. I do not want to delve into its evidence; we are content with the statement of our Lord, Blessed and Exalted is He:
And establish prayer and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].
وأقيموا الصلاة وأتوا الزكاة واركعوا مع الراكعينAnd establish prayer
وأقيموا الصلاةand bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].
واركعوا مع الراكعينIn short, it is obligatory for students to strive to perform the congregational prayer as much as they are able. So, if one has a valid religious excuse, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is the One who knows the truth of his case: whether he is excused or not. Now, I cannot say that this student is excused or not excused. But the ruling is that it is obligatory for students, whether in their homes or in their schools, to maintain the congregational prayer. If the school system does not help them in that, they must demand that the authorities pay attention to establishing this congregational prayer at the time of prayer.