The Prayer Comes in While I Am in Class. What Can I Do? (Habib Umar Bin Hafiz)

Answered by  Habib Umar bin Hafiz

Question: Assalam aleykum

I am student, and usually the time for Dhuhr prayer comes in while I am in class. We are not allowed to leave the class for prayer, so what is the best thing to do in this situation?

Answer: [Assalam alaykum]

Establishing the Prayer in the Most Beautiful Manner

It would be beautiful if you finish your class and then arrange a congregation (group prayer) with your classmates. It is even better and more beautiful if the teacher(s) and headmaster join you.

Performing the Prayer in the Beginning of the Time

The special virtue of performing a prayer at the first of its time is a matter of difference of opinion, and what is narrated in the sunnah is that the Prophet (may Allah peace and blessings be upon him and his folk) would pray a prayer mostly at the first half of its time and that he would sometimes delay a prayer beyond its first time. It is related that he would delay the Dhuhr prayer on a hot day to a cooler time.

Praying at Work or School

And so the one who is busy at work while the prayer time comes in should manage his work time to be able to pray (giving priority to congregation without necessarily praying at the first of the prayer’s time) and so should the students at school. All praises be to Allah; our schools are usually surrounded by mosques or have prayer spaces inside them that can be used after classes or after the school day ends. Furthermore, it happens during the year that prayer times coincide with breaks between classes.

Priority of the Congregation Over the Beginning of the Time

In any case, there is sufficient time to pray during a class period, as the time for prayer is extended. Therefore, praying in congregation later is better than praying early while alone and being remiss with your class duties, while Allah has given you a stretch of time.

Prohibition of Delaying the Prayer Beyond its Time

However if it is the case that you will end up delaying a prayer beyond its time because of class (which usually does not happen in schools in the Islamic world), then you have to leave for prayer.

Importance of Balancing Duties and Managing Time

Therefore you should combine between giving your educational or work duty its due importance and managing your time so that you can perform prayers in congregation.

Virtue of a Larger Congregation

Last but not least, having a larger congregation is always better, for a man praying with another man is better than praying alone, and praying with two men is better than praying with one man, and praying with three men is better than praying with two men, and so on and so forth.

Translated by: Abdullah Alrajhy

Habib Umar bin Hafiz  is a descendant of the Prophet (upon him be Allah’s peace and blessings). Born into a family of scholars, Habib Umar, pursued the sacred sciences from a young age, including Quran, Hadith, Fiqh, ‘Aqeedah, Arabic, and Spirituality. In 1994, he established Dar al-Mustafa, an educational institute in Tarim, Yemem.

Link to the original answer

أنا طالب في المدرسة عند دخول الوقت لصلاة الظهر تكون عندنا حصة و لا يسمح لنا بالخروج من القاعة للصلاة, فما الأفضل لنا فعله ؟
يكون من الطيب أن تكمل حصتك، ثم بعد انتهائها تتفق مع جماعة من الطلاب لتصلوا جماعة، وإن خرج معكم المدرس والمدير وأهل المدرسة فذلك أجمل وأفضل. فإن فضيلة أول الوقت مختلَف فيها، والوارد في السنة أن تكون صلاته صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم غالباً في النصف الأول من أوقات الصلوات، وقد يؤخر شيئًا من الصلوات عن أول وقتها كما جاء في الإبراد بالظهر. إذن فالمنشغل أيضاً بعمل يتجاوز وقتَ الصلاة ينبغي له أن يرتب، مثله في ذلك مثل الطلاب في المدارس. والحمد لله فعامة المدارس حواليها مساجد أو وسطها مصليات يقدر الناس أن يصلوا فيها، فيمكن بعد انتهاء الحصة أو الدوام أن يخرجوا إلى ذلك المكان، على أنه قد يصادف في بعض أيام السنة أن يكون وقت الصلاة في وقت الاستراحة. وعلى أي حال فلن يخرج وقت الصلاة وأنت في هذه الحصة، فوقت الصلاة متسع، فإذا أتممت الحصة فاجتماعكم جميعاً يكون أزكى من أن تقدِّمها أنت فرادى، أو أن تخلَّ بواجبك مع سعة الوقت الذي آتاك الله إياه. فإن وصل الحد إلى إخراج الفريضة عن وقتها -وهذا لا يحصل غالباً في المدارس الموجودة في العالم الإسلامي- فيجب القيام للصلاة. فلأجل ذلك ينبغي أن تجمع بين تعظيم مهمتك في العلم أو في أي عمل آخر وبين ترتيب أن تكون الصلاة في جماعة، وكلما استوعبت فيها عدداً أكبر كان أفضل، فإن صلاة الرجل مع الرجل أزكى من صلاته وحده، وصلاته مع الرجلين أزكى من صلاته مع الرجل، وصلاته مع الثلاثة أزكى وهكذا ..