The Ruling on a Worshipper Leaving the Prayer Due to Necessity

Question:
The questioner, whose name is abbreviated as (H. M. H) from Riyadh, says: What is the ruling in the Shari'ah, in your view, O honorable Shaykh, regarding a worshipper leaving the prayer because he sees harmful things, such as a snake or a predatory animal, or something else?

Answer:
Leaving the prayer is subject to detailed consideration:
If he fears for his life, he leaves it until he is rid of the threat, such as a person who wants to kill him, or a snake that reaches him and he fears its harm, and it is not easy to kill it while he is praying; he needs to seek something to kill it with, so there is no harm.
As for if he can kill it while he is in prayer, there is no harm. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If he has a stick and he is praying, and he strikes it, and he is praying, it does not harm, and praise be to Allah. But if he needs to cut it, he cuts it, to get rid of a snake, or an enemy who wants to kill him, or a wild beast, or something similar. Yes.