Is it permissible for employees to combine prayers during rain in their offices?
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The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : Is it permissible for those who pray in their offices to combine prayers in their workplaces when it is raining?
The Shaykh : As for if they know that the people in the town will combine, there is no harm in their combining to achieve the congregation, because combining to achieve the congregation is permissible. But if they know that the people will not combine, then leaving off the combining is the truth.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, if that is the case, they do not combine. That is to say, if their work continues until the time of 'Asr enters, it is not permissible to combine, because combining is not for the rain but for the hardship caused by the rain. It is not like travel, because that is the hardship. For this reason, when 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him both) said: meaning: that it should not be difficult for them to leave off combining if it is difficult for them to pray at every time.
The Shaykh : As for if they know that the people in the town will combine, there is no harm in their combining to achieve the congregation, because combining to achieve the congregation is permissible. But if they know that the people will not combine, then leaving off the combining is the truth.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, if that is the case, they do not combine. That is to say, if their work continues until the time of 'Asr enters, it is not permissible to combine, because combining is not for the rain but for the hardship caused by the rain. It is not like travel, because that is the hardship. For this reason, when 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him both) said: