As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu Alaykum

I recently converted to Islam last month. I am in college. But when I converted, I was off college for the summertime.

And I am kind of afraid that when I start school again, it will be difficult to pray at the times required. Like, what if I have a test around 1:30pm, or a presentation? What do I do about prayers? What if the proffessers do not accept the "prayer excuse"?

It is easy for me to pray now because I am on summer vacation, and I am not working either. So I am wondering what will happen when school starts, or when I get a job.. What if they object to me taking moments away from work to pray? what do i do?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Revert prayer on time

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.  

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 103:

Indeed the Salaat is a prescribed duty that should be performed by the believers at (their) appointed times.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 45-46:

45      Nay seek (Allah's) help with patient perseverance and ‘salaah’: it is indeed hard except to those who bring a lowly spirit.  

46      Who bear in mind the certainty that they are to meet their Lord and that they are to return to Him. 

The Prophet (saws) said, "The head of the matter is Islam, its pillar is the prayer, and the top of its hump is Jihad in the Way of Allah."

Jabir reports that the Prophet (saws) said, "Between a person and disbelief is discarding prayer."

Related by Ahmad, Muslim, Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.

Intentionally missing or delaying an obligatory prayer beyond its prescribed time is not even given as an option in the deen of Islam!  Thus regardless of the situation one find oneself in, unless of course one is a child, or insane, or unconscious, or sleeps, or forgets….one must make oneself available for prayer at its prescribed time.

Beloved Sister, it only takes a couple of minutes for one to offer their prescribed obligatory prayer; thus if you are in school, you can pray in the break between your classes, or excuse yourself from your class for a couple a minutes and offer your prayers.  Beloved sister, rest assured that most people, regardless of their belief, have a sense of righteousness….thus regardless of whether you are at school or in a job, if you humbly and politely ask the permission of your teacher or employer to excuse you for a few minutes so that you may worship your Lord, they will not only permit you, but will appreciate your righteousness and piety….even if they themselves do not believe! 

Besides sister, the time band allowance for the afternoon (dhuhr) and forenoon (asr) prayers is at least a couple of hours each; thus rest assured that as long as you have sincere intention and do the necessary striving, it would not be as difficult as you fear to excuse yourself for a few minutes to worship your Lord.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan