And among the principles of Islamic jurisprudence is that preserving the essence of the act of worship takes precedence over preserving its time and place.
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The questioner : He also says: And among the principles of Islamic jurisprudence is: "that preserving the essence of the act of worship takes precedence over preserving its time and place". Please explain this principle, give examples, and explain how this principle was derived from the evidence of the Shari'ah.
The Shaykh : Yes. As for preserving the essence of the act of worship being better than preserving its time, the evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Riyad as-Salihin 1753 For example, the time for the midday prayer has entered, and a person is struggling with the need to urinate, meaning he is confined by the urge to urinate. He says: If I pray now at the beginning of the time, I will pray without tranquility. If I relieve myself and pray at the end of the time, I will pray with tranquility. Which is better? The first or the second? The second. So the second is better because it preserves the essence of the act of worship, where he performs it with tranquility and presence of heart. As for preserving the place over the essence of the act of worship, without its place, an example given for this is the fast walking (raml) in tawaf and being close to the House. A man says: I am now performing the arrival tawaf. If I get close to the Ka'bah, I will not be able to do the raml, which is hastening in the first three circuits. If I stay farther from the Ka'bah, I can do the raml. The scholars said: Being farther away with the raml is better than being close to the Ka'bah without the raml. This preserves what?
The questioner : The essence of the act of worship.
The Shaykh : Without its place. Yes. And from that also, if a person is in the Raudah in the Prophet's Mosque, he says: If I pray in the Raudah, the people disturb me; this one is coming in and that one is going out, and this one is squeezing and that one is expanding. If I pray at the edge of the mosque, I will perform the prayer without disturbance. Which is better? The second or the first? The second is better. And this is preserving the essence of the act of worship, which takes precedence over preserving its place. Yes.
The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : The questioner asks why the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered...
The Shaykh : What time is it? The limit is necessary.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : How is it eight?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Five minutes is fine. Five minutes. Set the clock. You are, if Allah wills, trustworthy.
The Shaykh : Yes. As for preserving the essence of the act of worship being better than preserving its time, the evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
No 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 يدافعه الأخبثانThe questioner : The essence of the act of worship.
The Shaykh : Without its place. Yes. And from that also, if a person is in the Raudah in the Prophet's Mosque, he says: If I pray in the Raudah, the people disturb me; this one is coming in and that one is going out, and this one is squeezing and that one is expanding. If I pray at the edge of the mosque, I will perform the prayer without disturbance. Which is better? The second or the first? The second is better. And this is preserving the essence of the act of worship, which takes precedence over preserving its place. Yes.
The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : The questioner asks why the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered...
The Shaykh : What time is it? The limit is necessary.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : How is it eight?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : Five minutes is fine. Five minutes. Set the clock. You are, if Allah wills, trustworthy.