Is it permissible to break off a voluntary prayer without a valid excuse?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Your Eminence, regarding the voluntary prayer, is it permissible for a person to break it off without a valid excuse if he has already started it?
The Shaykh : The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said: Whoever enters into a voluntary prayer has the right to break it off, because it is voluntary, and continuing it is also voluntary. However, it is disliked to break it off without a valid purpose.
They cited evidence for this and they also cited as evidence that the voluntary prayer is an addition; if a person performs it, his deed is more complete, and if not, there is no blame on him. However, Hajj and 'Umrah are exceptions to this, because starting the voluntary acts of these two is binding. For this reason, Allah the Exalted called that a vow and said: [Al-Hajj 22:29] And He the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:196] He said this before Hajj and 'Umrah were made obligatory.
But as I told you, he should not break it off except for a valid purpose. Yes.
Your Eminence, regarding the voluntary prayer, is it permissible for a person to break it off without a valid excuse if he has already started it?
The Shaykh : The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) said: Whoever enters into a voluntary prayer has the right to break it off, because it is voluntary, and continuing it is also voluntary. However, it is disliked to break it off without a valid purpose.
They cited evidence for this
That the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) broke his fast when he entered his home and found food with his family. He said: "Show it to me, for I have started the day fasting," and he ate.
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم قطع صومه حين دخل على أهله ووجد عندهم طعاما فقال : أرينيه فلقد أصبحت صائما فأكلlet them end their untidiness and fulfill their vows
وَلْيَقْضُوا تَفَثَهُمْ وَلْيُوفُوا نُذُورَهُمْAnd complete the Hajj and 'umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals
وَأَتِمُّوا الْحَجَّ وَالْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ فَإِنْ أُحْصِرْتُمْ فَمَا اسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ الْهَدْيِBut as I told you, he should not break it off except for a valid purpose. Yes.