Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
We are currently two students and come home around 6 pm 3 times a week. Because of this we miss zuhr, asr and the maghrib prayer. We tried to pray at the school, but it’s impossible as there is absolutely no room available. The school is little, but has many students. And there’s no nearby mosque either where we can pray. We’ve even asked the school about this, but they say they can’t do anything. The classrooms are always full. The only thing we can do is to perhaps take a chair in a corner and pray sitting. But will that be valid? If not then we must pray infront of many people walking in and out all the time. Can you please suggest anything? What can we do?
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
It would be fine to pray *anywhere* in the school (besides the toilets). Any quiet corner will do.
It is absolutely obligatory to pray on time, though. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said,
“The first thing a person will be reckoned about on the Day of Judgment from their actions is prayer. If it was good, then they have succeed and been saved. If it was bad, they have failed and lost ” [Tirmidhi, Ibn Maja, and others, with similar wordings]
Be avid for that which benefits you
Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) said that the Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) said,
“The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, though there is good in both. Be avid for that which benefits you. Rely on Allah and do not deem yourself incapable ” [Muslim, Ibn Majah, and Ahmad]
Imam Nawawi (Allah have mercy on him) explained that the strength in this hadith refers to, “One’s determination and ability in matters of the next life.” [Sharh Sahih Muslim]
Allah has promised in the Qur’an, “As for those who strive for Us, We surely guide them to Our paths, and lo! Allah is with the good.” (Qur’an, 29: 69)
And Allah knows best.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani
faraz@sunnipath.com
hanafi@sunnipath.com
Imam Abu Hanifa (Allah have mercy on him) said, “Fiqh is to know one’s self: what is for it and against it.”