Answer
Short Answer:
- To start with, you should note that you may offer the prayer in any clean place. You are not required to pray in a masjid for every prayer.
- Allah has made the whole earth is a place of worship as the Prophet (peace be upon him) told us. You may offer your prayer in any corner in an office, meeting room, in the car park, in stock rooms, etc.
- With regard to delaying the prayer, it is not permissible for a Muslim to delay his prayers beyond the time when they are due. The only exception here would be if he or she had a legitimate excuse such as sleeping and forgetting.
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Salam Dear Brother Abdul,
Thank you very much for your question and for your kind and encouraging words about our site.
We ask Allah the Almighty to render our service for His Sake alone and to accept our humble efforts in helping Muslims get a better understanding of Islam.
Do not worry, brother, you are not alone in the problem you are facing. Many new Muslims are going through the same difficulty and even much more complicated issues in their transition period.
We highly appreciate your keenness to offer the prayer, the cornerstone of Islam and the first act of worship you will be asked about in the Hereafter.
You are right to worry about offering the prayer at its due time. It is what connects us with your Creator five times a day amid our busy schedules.
We sincerely applaud you for helping those who depend on you. For every penny you spend, you will get multiple rewards from Allah.
Where Can I Pray?
To start with, you should note that you may offer the prayer in any clean place. You are not required to pray in a masjid for every prayer.
Allah has made the whole earth is a place of worship as the Prophet (peace be upon him) told us. You may offer your prayer in any corner in an office, meeting room, in the car park, in stock rooms, etc.
To ease things, you can take a prayer mat with you and keep it in your work place.
Setting Priorities in Order
Next, with regard to delaying the prayer, it is not permissible for a Muslim to delay his prayers beyond the time when they are due. The only exception here would be if he or she had a legitimate excuse such as sleeping and forgetting.
Work is not an excuse for not praying or for delaying a prayer until its time is over. We read in the Quran what gives the meaning of:
…keep up regular prayer, for prayer is obligatory for the believers at prescribed times. (Quran 3:103)
A sincere believer does not let business or trade distract him from remembering Allah and establishing regular prayer. We read in the Quran what means:
Men whom neither trade nor sale (business) diverts from the remembrance of Allah (with heart and tongue) nor from performing the prayer nor from giving the Zakah. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (out of the horror of the torment of the Day of Resurrection). (Quran 24:37)
Practical Suggestions
Moving on, in regards to finding time to pray, surely you are given breaks. It is not possible for anyone to work for long hours without a break. You can cut short your lunch break and take five minutes for each prayer.
However, if the break time does not coincide with prayer times, I suggest asking for different break timings.
Above all, you have to try all possible means to pray on time, even if that will cause you some difficulty. For example, perhaps you could work extra hours. The spirituality and peace of mind you will gain from offering the prayer at its time will make you forget the difficulty you encounter.
I emphasize this because the spirituality and peace of mind you will gain from offering the prayer at its time will make you forget the difficulty you encounter.
Having said this, if all means fail, you can delay the Zhuhr prayer until five minutes before the Asr time. Then, offer the two prayers at one time. Just as well, in case the Maghrib prayer comes while you are still at work, you can also delay it until five minutes before the Isha prayer.
Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that:
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has often combined Zhuhr and Asr, and Maghrib and Isha, for no fear or travel. (Muslim)
What If I Miss a Prayer?
Lastly, in case you miss a prayer or delay it until its time is over, you have to repent to Allah and ask for His forgiveness. Then, pray an increased number of supererogatory prayers and do good deeds. We read in the Quran what means:
But there came after them generations who neglected prayer and were driven by their own desires. These will come face to face with their evil,but those who repent, who believe, who do righteous deeds, will enter Paradise. (Quran 19:59-60)
Those who remember God and implore forgiveness for their sins if they do something shameful or wrong themselves– who forgives sins but God?– and who never knowingly persist in doing wrong. (Quran 3:135)
We highly advise you to keep striving to offer the prayer at its prescribed time. Be sure that when you make a firm intention to do so, Allah will make a way out for you and He will make it easy for you.
And Allah knows best.
I hope this helps.
Salam and please keep in touch.
(From Ask About Islam archives)
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