Let’s say someone is travelling on an airplane and the plane is going against time, and therefore the time of the some prayers will be very short. As soon as the time of Maghrib — for example — enters, the plane starts landing. If the person wants to offer the salat standing up and facing the Qibla, the crew will not let him, as the seat belt light is on. If the person waits for the plane to land, the time of Maghrib will be over. What should such a person do?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
In such a desperate situation, you should try your best to offer your salat standing and facing the Qibla. However, after trying your best, if you are unable to do so due to the crew not allowing, you should pray with gestures (i.e. with movement of the head for ruku and sujood) sitting on your seat. After landing, you must repeat you prayer.
Note: When travelling on an airplane, the position of the sun from the plane’s current location will be taken into consideration, not the position of the sun from land. In other words, if the sun has already set on land, but not from the plane’s position in the air, one cannot offer the Maghrib salat.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Faizal Riza
22/10/2011