Can police officer combine Ṣalāh?
Question
I am a police officer and I have different shifts. Can I perform Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr together? Sometimes we are not in a position to perform Ṣalāh due to responding to a call or could be on a scene as a static officer throughout a full shift. In the summer, it is not an issue, however, in winter, it becomes difficult. Please advise, and suggestions are welcome.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
Answer
To perform the five Ṣalāh within their prescribed time is necessary. Therefore, you must make every effort to perform Ṣalāh on time. In emergency situations, you can suffice on the Farḍ Ṣalāh which should not take you more than a few minutes to perform.
In addition, you are permitted to perform ʿAṣr Ṣalāh after mithl awwal, times of which can be obtained online or from the Masjids that follow the other schools. This will allow you more time to perform ʿAṣr Ṣalāh. However, ʿAṣr Ṣalāh cannot be performed before this, and therefore, you must make every effort to perform it before sunset. Otherwise, if it is missed and performed after sunset, it will be qaḍāʾ and this must be avoided.
In relation to Ẓuhr Ṣalāh, you must endeavour to perform it before mithl awwal, especially if you perform ʿAṣr Ṣalāh after mithl awwal. However, in exceptional circumstances, if you perform Ẓuhr Ṣalāh before mithl thānī, which is the end time in the timetables of Masjids that follow the ḥanafi school, this will be excused based on need. Zuhr Ṣalāh cannot be delayed beyond this, and if it is performed thereafter, it will be regarded qaḍāʾ, and this must be avoided.
Allah knows best
Yusuf Shabbir
4 Jumādā al-Thāniyah 1442 / 18 January 2021
Approved by: Mufti Shabbir Ahmed and Mufti Muhammad Tahir
Note: The mithl awwal and mithl thānī and other Ṣalāh times can be easily accessed on the Wifaqul Ulama mobile app for any location in the world. Click here to download on Google and click here to download on Apple.