Delaying ‘Asr Prayer Due to Working Hours

30-3-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

Due to my difficult working hours, I never prayed the afternoon prayer, only after Maghrib prayer. Can I add the afternoon pray to the noon pray?

---

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.

It is not permitted to delay performing 'Asr Prayer until Maghrib on the plea of work, nor to combine it with Thuhr Prayer; i.e. before its fixed time. So, it is an obligation to perform all Prayers at their stated times unless you are on a journey or due to rain, fear or illness. In this case, you may combine the Thuhr Prayer with 'Asr Prayer and the Maghrib Prayer with 'Ishaa’ Prayer. As a rule, work does not constitute an Islamic sound reason to combine the Prayers continuously.

It takes only a little time for one who takes care and prepares for Prayers. This does not negatively affect one's work. On the contrary, Prayers constitute a source of help for work.

Allah Says (what means): {And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah].} [Quran 2:45]

For more benefit on the ruling on shortening and combining the prayers, please refer to Fataawa 362857, 83821, 90615, 90113, 88402 and 350368.

Allah knows best.