Ruling on abandoning prayer due to being occupied with work
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Q329: The questioner M. A. F. from Iraq says: I perform the prayer according to its principles, but my school schedule conflicts with my prayer times. They only allow me to pray Fajr, Maghrib, and Isha. As for Zuhr and Asr, I do not have enough time to pray them until after I return from school. Can I combine them with the Maghrib prayer? And is there a sin on me for not praying Zuhr and Asr? Please advise us, may Allah reward you.
A329: As for what you mentioned regarding your maintenance of the prayer, this is something for which you are to be praised, and we ask Allah the Exalted to increase you in it. Maintaining the prayers is among the most important obligations, because the prayer is the pillar of Islam, and Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:[Al-Baqarah 2:238], and He, Mighty and Majestic, says: [Al-Mu'minun 23:9-11],
and He, Exalted is He, says:[Al-Ma'arij 70:34-35]. Maintaining the prayer is a sign of faith, and whoever preserves his prayer preserves his religion. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Riyad as-Salihin 1081 If he fulfills it, he will be one who fulfills and maintains the rest of his religious affairs. Maintaining the prayer means performing it in the times that Allah the Exalted has prescribed for it. Allah the Exalted said: [An-Nisa 4:103]. So among the most important matters is maintaining the prayer by performing it in its appointed times. And among the most beloved deeds to Allah, Exalted and Glorified, is the prayer at its time. The Muslim
does not place anything of the works of this world before his prayer, because the prayer has priority in the Muslim's work. So his time is occupied, and it is not permissible for it to be occupied with anything else. Allah the Exalted said in praising the believers:[An-Nur 24:37], and He, Exalted is He, said: [Al-Jumu'ah 62:9] So when [Al-Jumu'ah 62:10]. And even in the most severe situation for the believer, which is the state of fear and facing the enemy, it is obligatory for the Muslims to pray the prayer in its time, even if they are facing the enemy. This is mentioned in the Noble Qur'an, in the saying of Allah the Exalted: [An-Nisa 4:102],
this is in the case of fear. And He, Exalted is He, said:[Al-Baqarah 2:238]. Meaning, pray while you are walking, or while you are riding, if you are in a state of fear, and you are being pursued by your enemy, you fear them, and you are fleeing from them. When the time for prayer comes, the Muslim prays according to his condition, and does not delay the prayer from its time. So it is obligatory upon you, O questioner, and it is obligatory upon all Muslims, to pray the prayers in their appointed times, and that worldly works, jobs, studies, or any work should not occupy them from performing the prayer in its time. Performing the prayer in its time does not take much of a person's time, nor does it occupy him from seeking sustenance; rather, it helps him. So it is obligatory upon you to pray Zuhr in its time, and Asr in its time, by preparing a place where you can pray the Zuhr prayer in its time, and the Asr prayer in its time, during study time, or during
work time. Then it is obligatory upon the rulers of the Muslims, and those in charge of education, and others in the works of the Muslims, to account for the prayer, and to allow the students, or those affiliated with them, to perform the prayer in its time without occupying them with it. This is the obligation of the Muslims, and of their rulers and officials, especially; because without this, the religion will not be completed, nor will it be valid, and consequently, the Muslims will have no honor, nor status, neither in this world nor in the Hereafter, except by maintaining this religion, especially the prayer which is the pillar of the religion of Islam. So we do not find an excuse for you in performing the prayer other than in its time.
A329: As for what you mentioned regarding your maintenance of the prayer, this is something for which you are to be praised, and we ask Allah the Exalted to increase you in it. Maintaining the prayers is among the most important obligations, because the prayer is the pillar of Islam, and Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says:
Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.
حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ(9) And they who carefully maintain their prayers - (10) Those are the inheritors (11) Who will inherit al-Firdaus. They will abide therein eternally.
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَى صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ (9) أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْوَارِثُونَ (10) الَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ الْفِرْدَوْسَ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَand He, Exalted is He, says:
(34) And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer: (35) They will be in gardens, honored.
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَى صَلاَتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ (34) أُولَئِكَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ مُكْرَمُونَThe first of man's deeds for which he will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection will be Salat. If it is found to be perfect, he will be safe and successful; but if it is incomplete, he will be unfortunate and a loser. If any shortcoming is found in the obligatory Salat, the Glorious and Exalted Rubb will command to see whether His slave has offered any voluntary Salat so that the obligatory Salat may be made up by it. Then the rest of his actions will be treated in the same manner.
إن أول ما يحاسب عليه العبد يوم القيامة صلاته، فإن صلحت فقد أفلح وأنجح، وإن فسدت، فقد خاب وخسر، فإذا انتقص من فريضته شيئًا، قال الرب سبحانه وتعالى: انظروا إلى عبدي هل له من تطوع، فيكمل به ما انتقص من الفريضة، ثم يكون سائر عمله على هذاAnd when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ الصَّلاَةَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَى جُنُوبِكُمْ فَإِذَا اطْمَأْنَنْتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاَةَ إِنَّ الصَّلاَةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَوْقُوتًاdoes not place anything of the works of this world before his prayer, because the prayer has priority in the Muslim's work. So his time is occupied, and it is not permissible for it to be occupied with anything else. Allah the Exalted said in praising the believers:
[Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving of zakah. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about -
رِجَالٌ لاَ تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلاَ بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ يَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالْأَبْصَارُO you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلاَةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَAnd when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often that you may succeed.
قُضِيَتِ الصَّلاَةُ فَانْتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَAnd when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you and let them carry their arms. And when they have prostrated, let them be [in position] behind you and have the other group come forward which has not [yet] prayed and let them pray with you, taking precaution and carrying their arms. Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack. But there is no blame upon you, if you are troubled by rain or are ill, for putting down your arms, but take precaution. Indeed, Allah has prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
وَإِذَا كُنْتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلاَةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا فَلْيَكُونُوا مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَائِفَةٌ أُخْرَى لَمْ يُصَلُّوا فَلْيُصَلُّوا مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ وَدَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ مَيْلَةً وَاحِدَةً وَلاَ جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِنْ كَانَ بِكُمْ أَذًى مِنْ مَطَرٍ أَوْ كُنْتُمْ مَرْضَى أَنْ تَضَعُوا أَسْلِحَتَكُمْ وَخُذُوا حِذْرَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابًا مُهِينًاthis is in the case of fear. And He, Exalted is He, said:
Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.
حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَwork time. Then it is obligatory upon the rulers of the Muslims, and those in charge of education, and others in the works of the Muslims, to account for the prayer, and to allow the students, or those affiliated with them, to perform the prayer in its time without occupying them with it. This is the obligation of the Muslims, and of their rulers and officials, especially; because without this, the religion will not be completed, nor will it be valid, and consequently, the Muslims will have no honor, nor status, neither in this world nor in the Hereafter, except by maintaining this religion, especially the prayer which is the pillar of the religion of Islam. So we do not find an excuse for you in performing the prayer other than in its time.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.