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Fatwa CenterConflict between Friday Prayer and studies
Question
In my country we study on Friday,and we can't Pray. Sould I go pray or go to the school, knowing that if I do that I probably will be eliminated from a modul, that's mean that I'll not be able to take exams in the principal session but in the control session?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
It is compulsory on the Muslim to adhere to Friday prayer and never miss praying it except for a sound legal reason as the person who neglects Friday prayers is given a strong warning. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "Whoever misses three consecutive Jumua (Friday Prayer) Allah puts a seal on his heart." [ Al-Tirmizi and Abu Dawood ].
Muslim also reported in his 'Sahih' that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: 'Some people would stop missing Friday prayers otherwise Allah will put a seal on their hearts and they will be among the unaware ones.'
So, it is unlawful to miss Friday prayers except for a sound Shari'a excuse like fearing harm for one's life, property or family as well as similar expected prejudices.
As a result, you should attend Friday prayer and try never to miss it by warding off any obstacles that might hinder you from attending it.
So you should address the competent authorities regardless of whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims about this issue. You should tell them that your Lord who created you made this act of worship compulsory on you at this particular time and this that act can not be performed at any other time.
You should also make it clear to them that you cannot disobey this order and that you should not agree with anybody who wants you to oppose Allah's Orders and Commands. Besides, everybody is free to perform their own rites and the law guarantees that right.
We are certain that if you expose your problem in a serious, wise and strong way, seeking the Help of Allah first and last, the authorities will accept your claim and will surrender to your pressure.
If this does not happen, now, we do not think that you have a sound excuse to leave Jumua' permanently during your years of study just for the reason you mentioned. This is for the following reasons:
1- The excuses that the Fuqaha state and which give one the right to miss Jumu'a are temporary, most of the time, and do not prevent the person from praying Jumu'a more than a week or two weeks or may be a month or two months. Then these excuses disappear and the person starts again to perform his Friday prayer unlike studying which usually lasts for several years.
2- If one says that Jumu'a can be left all the years of study, this will undoubtedly result in killing the consciousness of young Muslims as regards Jumu'a prayer and it is negligence of the strong warning that Allah stated concerning the person who gives up praying Jumu'a.
This negligence might even touch other acts of worship and might lead the person to committing sins and leave one's religious duties and not even feel sorrow for that. Their hearts will be sealed as mentioned in the above Ahadith.
We would like to add to the dear questioner that if the schedule of the exam conflicts with the time of the Friday Prayer and there is no way to manage this except by missing the prayer, then there is no harm that he misses the Friday Prayer in order to attend the exam.
Allah knows best.
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