What is the ruling if a sleeper wakes up and there is not enough time left before the time expires for him to perform wudu? Is it permissible for him to perform tayammum, and what is obligatory in that case?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : In the name of Allah, praise be to Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah.
The Shaykh : O Allah, send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah.
The questioner : Your Eminence, if a person wakes up from his sleep and there is not enough time left before the time expires for him to perform wudu, should he perform tayammum and pray, or should he perform wudu even if the obligatory time passes? What is the preferred ruling in this matter, may Allah preserve you?
The Shaykh : Yes, if a person wakes up from his sleep and there is not enough time left for him to perform wudu and pray, he should perform wudu and then pray, even if the time has passed. This is because for the sleeper, the time of prayer is the time of his waking. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: meaning: or he wakes up. Therefore, it is obligatory for him to purify himself first, and then pray second, even if the time has passed. In this case, according to the stronger opinion, his prayer is considered a performance (ada'), meaning: like one who prayed within the time.
However, we must be aware that it is not permissible for a person to prioritize sleep over prayer. Rather, it is obligatory for him to have an alarm clock or a telephone, or to ask his companions, for example, to wake him up when the time for prayer arrives. If there is someone in his house who wakes up, he should ask him to wake him. As for negligence, it is not permissible. We must be careful about this matter. That is, no one should say: The saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): indicates that the matter is easy. No.
But if a person sleeps and there is no one to wake him, and he is unable to wake up, and all means are difficult, then in this case he is excused.
The questioner : Is wudu obligatory for him?
The Shaykh : Yes, it is obligatory for him to perform wudu.
The Shaykh : O Allah, send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah.
The questioner : Your Eminence, if a person wakes up from his sleep and there is not enough time left before the time expires for him to perform wudu, should he perform tayammum and pray, or should he perform wudu even if the obligatory time passes? What is the preferred ruling in this matter, may Allah preserve you?
The Shaykh : Yes, if a person wakes up from his sleep and there is not enough time left for him to perform wudu and pray, he should perform wudu and then pray, even if the time has passed. This is because for the sleeper, the time of prayer is the time of his waking. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Whoever sleeps through a prayer or forgets it, let him pray it when he remembers it.
من نام عن صلاة أو نسيها فليصلها إذا ذكرهاHowever, we must be aware that it is not permissible for a person to prioritize sleep over prayer. Rather, it is obligatory for him to have an alarm clock or a telephone, or to ask his companions, for example, to wake him up when the time for prayer arrives. If there is someone in his house who wakes up, he should ask him to wake him. As for negligence, it is not permissible. We must be careful about this matter. That is, no one should say: The saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him and his family):
Whoever sleeps through a prayer or forgets it, let him pray it when he remembers it.
من نام عن صلاة ونسيها فليصلها إذا ذكرهاBut if a person sleeps and there is no one to wake him, and he is unable to wake up, and all means are difficult, then in this case he is excused.
The questioner : Is wudu obligatory for him?
The Shaykh : Yes, it is obligatory for him to perform wudu.