His work conflicts with performing the Friday prayer

24-3-2010 | IslamWeb

Question:

assalamou alaikoum recently my work situation changed as i no longer have the ability to go to Joumouaa (Friday prayer) in the same way that i use to. the reason for that is that rosters have changed. my work is bus driver for the general public. and my duty is to report for work and get to drive the bus according to a set timetable which means that i can not stop my work for at least one hour for the prayer. could you please clarify this situation for me as i live in a foreign country( non Muslim). wassalamou alaikoum

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

You are Islamically obliged to stop work when the Friday prayer time starts and to go to the prayer as Allaah Says (what means): {O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the prayer on the day of Friday (Jumu'ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allaah [Jumu'ah religious talk (Khutbah) and (prayer)] and leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you, if you only knew.}[Quran 62:9]

If your company prevents you from this, then you are obligated to leave it and seek another job that does not conflict with performing the Friday prayer and it is not permissible for you to continue in a job that obliges you to abandon the Friday prayer unless you are obliged to continue in it in a way that you cannot find another job to make a living for yourself and for those whom you are obliged to spend on, in which case it is permissible not to attend the Friday prayer because of the necessity while endeavoring your utmost to look for another job.

You should know that Allaah promised us saying (what means): {And whoever fears Allaah - He Will Make for him a way out. And Will Provide for him from where he does not expect.}[Quran 65:2-3]

Allaah also Says (what means): {And whoever fears Allaah -- He will make for him of his matter ease.}[Quran 65:4]

For more benefit on working at the time of the Friday prayer, please refer to Fataawa 83116 and 83127.

Allaah Knows best.

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