Question:

Many among the workers delay the Dhur and Asr prayer until night time and then pray them together due to either being busy with their work, or that their clothing was impure, or unclean. What is your advice to them?

Answer:

It is neither permissible for a Muslim man nor a Muslim woman to delay the obligatory prayer beyond its prescribed time; rather it is incumbent upon all Muslims who have reached the age of puberty to perform the prayer at its prescribed time according to their ability.

The worker is not excused for delaying it (i.e. the prayer), and likewise impure and dirty clothing is not an excuse. It is obligatory to give precedence to the prescribed times of the prayer over work, and it is incumbent upon a worker to wash off the impurity from his clothing or replaced (such clothing) with clothing that is pure.

As for dirt, it is not (something) that can prevent a person from the prayer if it is not from impurities or does not have a repugnant smell that will harm the performers of the prayer. But if the dirt itself or its smell harms the performers of the prayer, then it is incumbent upon a Muslim to wash it off before the prayer or replaces (his clothing) with another clothing, so that he can perform the prayer in congregation.

And it is permissible for the one whom the Islamic legislation has given an excuse, such as the ill person and the traveller to combine the Dhur and Asr prayer at the prescribed times of one of them, and the Maghrib and Ishaa prayers at the prescribed times of one of them, because this has been confirmed in the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam). And likewise it is permissible to combine [the prayers (i.e. Dhur and Asr, and Maghrib and Ishaa)] due to rain and muddy conditions that brings about difficulty upon the people.

[Fataawaa Muhimma Tata-allaqu Bis-Salaah of Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) page: 19-20]

Answer:

Yes, it has societal benefits; and from them is that the people are made aware that they are one Ummah. They eat and fast at the same time; the wealthy are made aware of Allaah’s blessings and they give to the poor. The (treacherous plots) of shaytaan diminish and there is fear of Allaah in it (i.e. by obeying His commands and keeping away from what He has forbidden), and fear of Allaah strengthens the ties between individuals of a society.

[Fiqhul Ibaadaat of Imaam Muhammad Bin Saaleh Al-Uthaymeen: page: 233..Abridged and slightly paraphrased ]

Question

I am fasting with a country that preceded Saudi (in fasting), so should I end the fasting with the country am fasting with or with Saudi, knowing that I will be staying there (i.e. in that other country) till after Eed?

Answer

At present you are following Saudi, so if they finish their fasting, you finish alongside them; but if they (i.e. that other country) complete thirty days and you are about to reach thirty one days, what is the ruling on ( this)? Allaah did not (legislate) that we fast thirty-one days, rather we either fast thirty days or twenty-nine days based on the sighting of the crescent. Therefore, some of the scholars say that you should break the fasting in secret when it reaches thirty days. [Al-Fataawaa Wad-Duroos Fil-Masjidil Haraam of Shaikh Abdullaah Bin Muhammad bin Humaid (rahimahullaah) page: 473]