Is it permissible to perform the obligatory prayer on a mount and what serves as its equivalent?
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The questioner : I travel by bus to Saudi Arabia, and I heard some scholars in Saudi Arabia say that it is permissible for you to pray while sitting during the bus ride. I also heard people say that when the bus stops—meaning during the intervals where it stops for people to relieve themselves and buy things—they say, "No, get down and pray it standing during these times when it stops." We want you to clarify this matter for us?
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the answer of those who said, "Get down and pray," is the truth in which there is no ambiguity, provided that your question is about the obligatory prayer, is it not? Your question is about the obligatory prayer? Performing 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. However, given the situation you described, where this vehicle stops at certain stations and the passenger is able to pray with standing, bowing, and prostration, this is the obligatory requirement, and it is not permissible to do otherwise. Perhaps those whose opinion you heard regarding the permissibility of praying in the car meant a car that continues its journey without stopping at a station where the passenger can pray with bowing and prostration. I say, perhaps this is their intention. If their intention is that it is permissible to pray in the car even if there is a station there, then this is an error, without doubt.
The questioner : He says, meaning he speaks about people, saying, "This is a recommended practice, why do you leave it?" That the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The Shaykh : What is the recommended practice?
The questioner : That he prayed while riding.
The Shaykh : The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not pray an obligatory prayer, my brother, while riding. He prayed the voluntary prayers, yes.
Another questioner : Shaykh, we call the adhan for Maghrib and we pray.
The Shaykh : Yes, come on. The time has arrived.
The Shaykh : There is no doubt that the answer of those who said, "Get down and pray," is the truth in which there is no ambiguity, provided that your question is about the obligatory prayer, is it not? Your question is about the obligatory prayer? Performing 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. However, given the situation you described, where this vehicle stops at certain stations and the passenger is able to pray with standing, bowing, and prostration, this is the obligatory requirement, and it is not permissible to do otherwise. Perhaps those whose opinion you heard regarding the permissibility of praying in the car meant a car that continues its journey without stopping at a station where the passenger can pray with bowing and prostration. I say, perhaps this is their intention. If their intention is that it is permissible to pray in the car even if there is a station there, then this is an error, without doubt.
The questioner : He says, meaning he speaks about people, saying, "This is a recommended practice, why do you leave it?" That the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)?
The Shaykh : What is the recommended practice?
The questioner : That he prayed while riding.
The Shaykh : The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not pray an obligatory prayer, my brother, while riding. He prayed the voluntary prayers, yes.
Another questioner : Shaykh, we call the adhan for Maghrib and we pray.
The Shaykh : Yes, come on. The time has arrived.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.