Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam Alaikum,

The company for which Im working does not have a proper place for wazoo & namaz, the problem is neither I can leave this company nor Im able to offer Zohar & Asar namaz. So please please let me know what should I have to do....????

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

No place for prayer in office

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 103:

Indeed the Salaat is a prescribed duty that should be performed by the believers at (their) appointed times.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 45-46:

45 Nay seek (Allah's) help with patient perseverance and ‘salaah’: it is indeed hard except to those who bring a lowly spirit.

46 Who bear in mind the certainty that they are to meet their Lord and that they are to return to Him.

Respected Sister, such is the importance and significance of offering one’s obligatory prayers-on-time in Islam, that Allah Subhanah Commands and Demands that the believers offer their prayers on time even during times of war, fear, extreme illness, etc.,

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisa 102:

102 When thou (O Prophet (saws)) are with them (during war) and stand to lead them in prayer, let one party of them stand up (in prayer) with thee taking their arms with them: when they finish their prostrations let them take their positions in the rear and let the other party come up which hath not yet prayed and let them pray with thee taking all precautions and bearing arms.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 238-239:

238 Guard strictly your prayers, especially the middle (Asr) prayer and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind).

239 If ye fear (an enemy), pray on foot or riding (as may be most convenient); but when ye are in security celebrate Allah's Praises in the manner He has taught you which ye knew not (before).

Beloved Sister in Islam, to intentionally miss, or neglect, or delay one’s obligatory prayers beyond its appointed time without an absolutely valid and genuine reason is not even an option in Islam, and would be absolutely unacceptable and impermissible and a grave sin in the Sight of the Lord.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 107 Surah Al-Maun verses 4-5:

4 So woe to the worshippers

5 Who are neglectful of their prayers

The Prophet (saws) said, "The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is the prayer, and the top of its hump is Jihad in the Way of Allah."

Jabir reports that the Prophet (saws) said, "Between a person and disbelief is discarding prayer."

Related by Ahmad, Muslim, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.

Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'Aas reported that the Prophet (saws) one day mentioned the prayer and said, "Whoever guards and observes his prayer, they (his prayers) will be a light and a proof and a savior for him on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever does not guard and observe them, they will not be a light or a proof or a savior for him. On the Day of Resurrection, he will be with Qarun, Fir'aun, Haman and Ubayy ibn Khalf."

Related by Ahmad, at-Tabarani and Ibn Hibban.

A man came to the Prophet (saws) and said “ O Prophet of Allah (saws), what is the act or deed most loved by Allah?”

The Prophet (saws) replied: “To pffers ones prayers on time.”

The man asked further: “What (deed or act most loved by Allah) next?”

The Prophet (saws) replied: “Obedience to ones parents.”

The man asked further: “What (deed or act most loved by Allah) next?”

The Prophet (saws) replied: “Jihaad in the Way of Allah.”

Related by Bukhari.

Intentionally missing an obligatory prayer is not even given as an option in the deen of Islam!

Your Question: So please please let me know what should I have to do....????

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.636 Narrated by Abu Dhaar

The Prophet (saws) said: "Wherever the time for the prayer comes upon you, perform the prayer, for (Allah has made) all the earth as a place of worship for you (the believers)."

Respected Sister, one only needs a place of approximately 3ftx2ft to be able to offer one’s prayer; and Allah is our witness sister, it would be nigh impossible for one to present an excuse in the Majestic Presence of the Lord on the Day of Judgment that they could not find a 3ftx2ft place on His vast earth to offer their prayers!

If the office where one happens to work does not provide a specific ‘prayer area’, one should find a small corner in the office and make sure they offer their obligatory prayers on time, if indeed they fear Allah and the Last Day. We assure you in the Blessed Name of the Lord Most Majestic, that one who delayed or missed their obligatory prayers only because they could not find a place to offer their prayers will not be accepted as an excuse in the Presence of the Lord Most High!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan