Important Fataawaa related to the Salaah - Sh `Abdul-`Azeez bin Baaz

[Yusuf.McNulty.al.Irlandee]

Question:

Many workers delay Dhuhr and `Asr until night time, using as an excuse the fact that they are busy with their jobs, or their clothes are impure and not clean. What is your advice to them?


Sh `Abdul-`Azeez Ibn Baaz:

It is not allowed for the Muslim man nor woman, that they delay the obligatory prayers beyond their due times. Rather, it is an obligation upon every Muslim, man and woman who is sane and morally accountable, to perform the prayers in their correct times, in which ever way they are able to.

Work is not an excuse to miss the prayer, likewise having impurities upon clothing, or clothes being dirty; none of this is an excuse.

Prayer times should be set aside from work, and one should wash his clothes from impurities when the time for prayer comes, or instead change his clothes for ones free of impurities. As for mere dirt on one’s clothing, then it does not prevent someone from praying within those clothes, so long as that dirt does not contain any impurities [1], nor has a strong stench that would harm the other worshippers. So if the dirt causes harm to other worshippers due to the dirt itself or due to its stench, then here it would be binding upon the Muslim to either wash his clothing before prayer, or change into clean clothes, so that he would be able to perform the salaah with the jamaa`ah (congregation).

(Combining the prayers) is permissible for the one who is considered excused (from performing them on time) in the Sharee`ah, such as the (severely) sick or the traveller. It is allowed for them to combine Dhuhr with `Asr, in either of the two times, and also Maghrib with `Ishaa, in either of the two times, as is authentically proven in the Sunnah from the Prophet – sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam. Similar to this is combining (between these prayers) during heavy rain and mud, which would cause hardship upon the people [2].


- Translated by Yusuf McNulty
- Fataawaa Muhim-mah Ta-ta`al-laqu bis-Salaah
- Question no. 13, page 15-16


[1] Translator’s Note:

Sh Khaalid Ibn Dahwee adh-Dhafeeree – hafidhahullaah, said in his explanation of Kitaabut-Tahaarah from Manhajus-Saalikeen of Imaam as-Sa`dee, “Ahlul-`Ilm consider najaasah (impurity) as everything that has been made forbidden to use or touch, not due to any harm it would cause, nor due to its repulsiveness, nor due to its forbiddance (in and of itself).” [End of quote].


[2] Translator’s Note:

Regarding the issue of combining the prayers in jamaa`ah at the masjid, the Imaam and Faqeeh, Sh Muhammad Ibn Saalih al-`Uthaymeen – rahimahullaah, said in Fataawaa Arkaanil-Islaam (page.381-382): “… So whenever there is a pressing need for someone to combine the prayers, whether upon a journey or within their place of residence, they should combine. For this reason the prayers are combined (in jamaa`ah) due to heavy rain, which would otherwise make it hard for the people to come back to the masjid (for the next prayer). Likewise the people should combine if there was a severely cold wind during winter time, which would make it difficult for the people to come out to the masjid (for the next prayer).” [End of quote]