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Fatwa CenterWorking As a Pilot
Question
I want to become pilot and I passed two of three pilot exams but I am very afraid that I will miss at least one prayer in my entire lifetime as a pilot. The job of a pilot is my dream but praying every prayer on time is more important. This stresses me alot. So my question is, is it allowed to pray all prayers sitting in a plane although the plane just landed and the pilots are in the cockpit, waiting for new passengers? Can you show me a way to pray all prayers on time and doing the job we want ?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
If you are asking about how to pray on the plane, then you should first of all know that the only permissible to perform the obligatory prayer while sitting down if one is unable to stand; the Prophet said: “Pray while standing, and if you are not able to stand, then pray while sitting, and if again you are not able, then pray while lying on your side.” [Al-Bukhari]
If it is not possible at all for the passenger in the plane, or its pilot, to pray in a standing position, then he may pray while sitting on the chair. However, there is no doubt that the space available for the pilot in the plane is greater than that available for the passengers.
As for how to pray in the plane, then Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen
explained this saying:
“If the time of the prayer comes while you are in the plane, then do not pray it in the plane; rather, wait until the plane lands at the airport, if there is enough time. However, if there is a special place in the plane where you can pray a full prayer: you face the Qiblah, you make Rukoo’, you prostrate, you stand, and you sit down; in such a case, you pray on the plane when the time of the prayer starts.
However, if there is no special place in the plane where you can pray a full prayer, and you fear that the time of the prayer will end before the plane lands, then if it is a prayer that can be combined with the prayer that comes after it, like the Thuhr and the ‘Asr prayers, or the Maghrib and the ‘Ishaa’ prayers, and the plane will land before the time of the second prayer ends, then delay the first prayer (the one due whilst on the plane) and pray it (in the airport) combined along with the second prayer at the time of the second prayer after the plane lands. However, if the plane will not land until after the time of the second prayer expires, then pray both prayers in the plane according to your ability; you face the Qiblah, you stand, perform the Rukoo’, if possible, otherwise you bow your head for the Rukoo’ while standing, and then prostrate if possible; otherwise, you bow your head for Sujood while sitting on the chair.” [End of quote]
However, if you are asking about the ruling of working as a pilot, and that it is believed that you will miss many prayers, then we say that the prayer is not missed by simply working in aviation. Indeed, many people work in this job and observe their prayers on time [at their prescribed fixed time].
Nonetheless, the profession of aviation, albeit it is permissible in principle, the reality testifies that most airlines are full of corruption and evil, such as mixing (between men and women), the stewards female flight attendants being scantily dressed and sitting in seclusion with pilots , selling alcohol on the plane, and so forth.
Therefore, incurring a sin when work in aviation is because of these violations and this reality (and not the job itself), because when working in such an environment, a Muslim will fall into disobedience, commit what is forbidden and subject himself to temptation.
For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 335077, 353161 and 344485.
Allah knows best.
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