[gomosopions]

Asalaamu alaikum,

Please help me as I am worried about missing my Dhuhr prayer during my exam time.

I'm in UK and Dhuhr is at 12.57pm. I have to be in the exam location by 1.15pm (based on the website) although they might not start allowing people in till perhaps 1.20-1.25ish maybe. The nearest mosque I found is about twenty minutes away which obviously won't give me enough time.

My exam is three hours and it ends at 5pm (starts at 2pm but we have to be there 45 min early). I follow the Shafi madhab and Asr is around 5.10pm ish roughly. Again i won't have enough time to pray.

I am feeling really bad about this as it feels really wrong to give priority to a Dunya exam and miss my prayer time. I was thinking maybe I should just take a mussala with me and in the exam location I can just pray? Insha Allah I should get there by 12.50 or 1pm and then before the 45 minute mark which starts at 1.15pm, I could do my Dhuhr prayer.

Has anyone here prayed in public before? I don't quite know how to go about it as there would be so many students there and probably a lot of pointing and whispering I feel. (these are universiy level exams so perhaps some level of maturity may be there regarding such issues).

Can someone please help me? I have contacted the universtiy and they said the only advice they can give me is to file in a claim and defer my exams till July. I have already booked my tickets to go back home and as my exam is starting on the 3rd of May, I have left it really late too. So I don't want to have to delay exams till July. Insha Allah instead I want to try and figure out a way I can do my Dhuhr prayer on time next month.

[cwgwowcom]

Asalaamu alaikum,

Please help me as I am worried about missing my Dhuhr prayer during my exam time.

I'm in UK and Dhuhr is at 12.57pm. I have to be in the exam location by 1.15pm (based on the website) although they might not start allowing people in till perhaps 1.20-1.25ish maybe. The nearest mosque I found is about twenty minutes away which obviously won't give me enough time.

My exam is three hours and it ends at 5pm (starts at 2pm but we have to be there 45 min early). I follow the Shafi madhab and Asr is around 5.10pm ish roughly. Again i won't have enough time to pray.

I am feeling really bad about this as it feels really wrong to give priority to a Dunya exam and miss my prayer time. I was thinking maybe I should just take a mussala with me and in the exam location I can just pray? Insha Allah I should get there by 12.50 or 1pm and then before the 45 minute mark which starts at 1.15pm, I could do my Dhuhr prayer.

Has anyone here prayed in public before? I don't quite know how to go about it as there would be so many students there and probably a lot of pointing and whispering I feel. (these are universiy level exams so perhaps some level of maturity may be there regarding such issues).

Can someone please help me? I have contacted the universtiy and they said the only advice they can give me is to file in a claim and defer my exams till July. I have already booked my tickets to go back home and as my exam is starting on the 3rd of May, I have left it really late too. So I don't want to have to delay exams till July. Insha Allah instead I want to try and figure out a way I can do my Dhuhr prayer on time next month.

Are you allowed to leave the exam early?

[tigoCeree]

Are there any other rooms/shops with changing rooms near your exam room? Both salah times are outside your actual exam so you should be able to make it in time.

[gomosopions]

From my previous exams, I think if I were to leave I would have to leave maybe at 4pm (and therefore miss the last full hour). I THINK this would be the case as normally they say you can't leave within last hour or last 30 min or something due to distracting others perhaps. These are postgraduate exams so I would need the full time allocated I suppose to finish them as we have to answer a lot in the 3 horus given and once I leave the exam in order to even just pray I doubt I shall be allowed back in.

[gomosopions]

Are there any other rooms/shops with changing rooms near your exam room? Both salah times are outside your actual exam so you should be able to make it in time.

What kind of shops do you mean? Like clothing stores? Surely they would have a lot of music being played? Would that be okay? Insha Allah in a couple of days I am going to this area to scope out the place and see if there is anywhere nearby that is possible for me to pray in. I have just been told there are no mosques that's all.

What kind of areas should I try to look for?

I am also about to call university and find out the latest time I can be at the university accomodation and still be allowed to do the exam.

[JanetMorris]

Assalaamu alaikum sis.

May God bless you for trying to fulfil an obligation. I pray that someone from the Shafi'i madhab can help answer you.

I feel a sense of distress coming from you, with the idea of just missing Zuhr, and that in itself if commendable. But this religion, I don't know, I doubt is meant to make things tremendously difficult for you. Personally, I know I have combined my prayers in such a situation.

However, I know that I have also at times felt such distress at it, that Allah helps you, in that where there is a will there is a way.

I feel that taking a prayer mat, or even a piece of paper, or another scarf with you, just so that you can find a small spot, somewhere, in a room or something, where you can pray quickly insha'allah, nearby.

I know that when I have done exams before, there are two things, one sometimes I don't feel good if I haven't prayed, and I know that an effort made for God, the reward and ease that comes after in your exams and what you do next, can't really be put into words.

However, this faith insha'Allah, is not to drive you to madness either. I don't know. If you can't pray before, then pray after, with your second scarf acting as a prayer mat/or your prayer mat.

Insha'Allah, are there no rooms nearby in the building where you can pray?

It is the fear itself which is greater. If you had enough time, i would have done some scouting to find a place to pray before the exam.

Sometimes there is no stopping someone who wants to pray, and when you gotta do it you gotta do it. I would have faith in Allah...He can see you right now and He knows what worries you have.

My alternative, would be to combine Zuhr in Asr time - althought, I admit I dont know how right I am with this. However I have had to do this before, taking dispensation from another madhab.

Your exams are also a worship to God, although not 'fard', it seems that in the long term you are doing your best to serve Him in some way with them.

Allah is also merciful. I pray that you will find your answer.

May Allah guide you, and me, and forgive me for any wrong that I have mentioned. I pray that you are brave and strong. The key to praying in public, is to be well mannered and polite, and to be as considerate and out of the way as possible, if you can, and if you can't then still with manners and politeness, apologise for taking 2 mins to pray. (I say 2 mins, because no matter how long it is, it is to a nonmuslim, its easier). I don't see insha'Allah how they could refuse you.

I sense you want to take you mat and pray, and I think that is fine. You will find a spot, even if its behind a car in acarpark or near the trees or somewhere, or infront of everyone. Allah is with you, and the angels are with you, keep saying la illaha illalla wa la howla wa la quwatta illa billah...He will make it easy.

do not postpone your exams...i dont think that you should do that...Allahu alim.

(you dont necessarily need your prayer mat - you could put another scarf you have on you on the ground, or your coat on the ground or a paper...something to make it easy for you. unless your prayer mat is thin and not hard to carry around....I mean some like to be discrete about it...just other options..)

[JanetMorris]

Sis, it's the focus you have in your prayer, regardless of what is going on around you that matters. You won't be able to help the fact that there is music playing in the background. It's a prayer spot you're after.

Additionally, what University is it? There should be a prayer spot on the campus surely?
additionally, if you're in 'accomodation'...it may not be far from your 'accomodation' to the exam hall surely?

hmmm.

Forgive me, I suppose you may not be from the UK.

[venediene]

Just explain your situation to the proctor and ask for an empty room to pray in. Usually, there's a staff room or something you can use.

[interbaoui]

When I was in university here in Canada, I simply asked the invigilator (who usually happened to be my prof) if I could go outside the room and pray and I would be allowed to do so. People are permitted to go to the bathroom so why would they stop you from going outside and praying? Just find a stairwell or any area away from prying eyes and pray. Try to pray near the exam hall and don't wander off because that may make the invigilators suspicious. Pray the fardh and return to the room. It should take less than 3-4 minutes.

Come prepared with wudhu, of course.

The worst exam times are in the winter, because during the duration of the exam, two salah times can come and go (i.e. 'Asr and Maghrib times, especially for us Hanafis) and some people are either too fearful and make up excuses in their mind to not pray. We should never hesitate when it comes to our deen. We should realize that other people are able to go to the bathrooms during the exam and usually take about 5 minutes. Our salah would take even less than that so why should we worry?

Another suggestion is to wait until you're confident that anyone who is going to write the exam is already in the room (about 45 mins to an hour after the exam has started) and then ask to be excused for prayer. This way, you won't be distracted by others coming in and the invigilators won't be suspicious of you passing on information about the exam to latecomers.

[gomosopions]

Assalaamu alaikum sis.

May God bless you for trying to fulfil an obligation. I pray that someone from the Shafi'i madhab can help answer you.

I feel a sense of distress coming from you, with the idea of just missing Zuhr, and that in itself if commendable. But this religion, I don't know, I doubt is meant to make things tremendously difficult for you. Personally, I know I have combined my prayers in such a situation.

However, I know that I have also at times felt such distress at it, that Allah helps you, in that where there is a will there is a way.

I feel that taking a prayer mat, or even a piece of paper, or another scarf with you, just so that you can find a small spot, somewhere, in a room or something, where you can pray quickly insha'allah, nearby.

I know that when I have done exams before, there are two things, one sometimes I don't feel good if I haven't prayed, and I know that an effort made for God, the reward and ease that comes after in your exams and what you do next, can't really be put into words.

However, this faith insha'Allah, is not to drive you to madness either. I don't know. If you can't pray before, then pray after, with your second scarf acting as a prayer mat/or your prayer mat.

Insha'Allah, are there no rooms nearby in the building where you can pray?

It is the fear itself which is greater. If you had enough time, i would have done some scouting to find a place to pray before the exam.

Sometimes there is no stopping someone who wants to pray, and when you gotta do it you gotta do it. I would have faith in Allah...He can see you right now and He knows what worries you have.

My alternative, would be to combine Zuhr in Asr time - althought, I admit I dont know how right I am with this. However I have had to do this before, taking dispensation from another madhab.

Your exams are also a worship to God, although not 'fard', it seems that in the long term you are doing your best to serve Him in some way with them.

Allah is also merciful. I pray that you will find your answer.

May Allah guide you, and me, and forgive me for any wrong that I have mentioned. I pray that you are brave and strong. The key to praying in public, is to be well mannered and polite, and to be as considerate and out of the way as possible, if you can, and if you can't then still with manners and politeness, apologise for taking 2 mins to pray. (I say 2 mins, because no matter how long it is, it is to a nonmuslim, its easier). I don't see insha'Allah how they could refuse you.

I sense you want to take you mat and pray, and I think that is fine. You will find a spot, even if its behind a car in acarpark or near the trees or somewhere, or infront of everyone. Allah is with you, and the angels are with you, keep saying la illaha illalla wa la howla wa la quwatta illa billah...He will make it easy.

do not postpone your exams...i dont think that you should do that...Allahu alim.

Alhamdulillah. Sis your words have helped me greatly. Insha Allah like you said, when there is a will, there is a way. I just feel guilty thinking, I am giving priority to an exam in this Dunya whilst ignoring an obligation for the next life, the akhirah that is fard on us.

I could just take an extra scarf with me and then spread that on the ground. Insha Allah on the 30th I am going to this exam hall with a friend of mine as we both want to learn how to get there a few days before the exam. Then, I shall be able to see which rooms I am allowed into. From what I gather, it is just going to a main waiting area or a hallway we are allowed into until called in for exams. But perhaps I shall be able to see if there is a room nearby or something.

Just out of curiousity though, how do we combine prayers? I have heard that this is something that can be done during traveling right? Just for the future although Insha Allah, I hope to be able to do prayers on time.

May Allah (swt) make it easy for all of us.

[gomosopions]

@ Brother AbdulWahhab,

I wonder in this case if they would say yes as both my prayer times are outside of the actual exam time. If it isn't possible for me to find a prayer room, beforehand, this is something I should do though. Like you said, if they allow us to go outside for bathroom, why not for prayer times?

Regarding combining, do we just pray two rakats for each prayer then? I am a bit confused :S After the two rakats for Dhuhr, do I just get up and give niyyat and go straight to two rakats for Asr?

@Brother NNoor,

That's actually a really good idea Alhamdulillah. I literally just need a spot for ten minutes or so to pray in. They have explicitly stated there are no prayer rooms available but perhaps depending on the nature of the person I ask, they would be able to offer me just a quiet area.

Insha Allah I won't miss my Dhuhr prayers Insha Allah.

[interbaoui]

Alhamdulillah. Sis your words have helped me greatly. Insha Allah like you said, when there is a will, there is a way. I just feel guilty thinking, I am giving priority to an exam in this Dunya whilst ignoring an obligation for the next life, the akhirah that is fard on us.

I could just take an extra scarf with me and then spread that on the ground. Insha Allah on the 30th I am going to this exam hall with a friend of mine as we both want to learn how to get there a few days before the exam. Then, I shall be able to see which rooms I am allowed into. From what I gather, it is just going to a main waiting area or a hallway we are allowed into until called in for exams. But perhaps I shall be able to see if there is a room nearby or something.

Just out of curiousity though, how do we combine prayers? I have heard that this is something that can be done during traveling right? Just for the future although Insha Allah, I hope to be able to do prayers on time.

May Allah (swt) make it easy for all of us.

Hanafis cannot combine prayers, but since you're a Shafi'i, you can combine Dhuhr and 'Asr together and Maghrib and 'Isha together at the same time (e.g. you say salam at the end of 2 rakats qasr of Dhuhr then start 2 rakats of qasr of 'Asr).

[gomosopions]

Sis, it's the focus you have in your prayer, regardless of what is going on around you that matters. You won't be able to help the fact that there is music playing in the background. It's a prayer spot you're after.

Additionally, what University is it? There should be a prayer spot on the campus surely?
additionally, if you're in 'accomodation'...it may not be far from your 'accomodation' to the exam hall surely?

hmmm.

Forgive me, I suppose you may not be from the UK.

I'm at the University of Westminster but currently they are doing lots of building works so all our exams have been moved to an off-site area which is why there are no prayer rooms. Sorry I didn't mean to imply I live in university accommodation. I think I used that word earlier by accident. I actually live in Zone 5 in London so very far from Tower Hill which is the station I need to go to for the exam halls. I am a bit annoyed at the university for the inconvenience they have caused us but it seems like I can't do anything about it.

Thank you for your answer though because Insha Allah when I go to have a look at the exam site, if there are no available rooms, I shall try to find another pray er spot nearby too.

[gomosopions]

Hanafis cannot combine prayers, but since you're a Shafi'i, you can combine Dhuhr and 'Asr together and Maghrib and 'Isha together at the same time (e.g. you say salam at the end of 2 rakats qasr of Dhuhr then start 2 rakats of qasr of 'Asr).

I suppose we are not allowed to follow the Hanafi madhab timetable if there is a chance of missing the prayer whilst following Shafi?

[JanetMorris]

Assalaamu alaikum sis,

[edited post inview of bro abdulwahhab's post below].

Allahu alim. If God is strong in your heart, and you want to do it for Him, (which I can tell you do) then I believe insha'Allah the way has already been set for you, and it will be easy, as one step towards Allah, cannot be compared to the way that Allah turns to you.

May Allah forgive me trully for wrongly stating anything of with regards to Islam, it is merely my intention to relieve distress, allow ease, and help. May I be corrected if wrong. May you and I, and all be protected from being misguided and misguiding others.

[JanetMorris]

I don't know aishath. I know that sometimes dispensation from another madhab is possible for ease. I do not believe the madhabs are incorrect. I believe that it is the beauty of Islam that we can see things differently given our different locations and different histories. It may even be a mercy, if on this occasion you are taking dispensation for the Hanafi prayer time for asr.

Hence combining...may not be a sin...especially if your intention is to pray out of fear for your Lord and belief in Him.

And Allah knows best, and may He forgive me for my weakness.

[interbaoui]

Sister, we cannot use singular ahadeeth as proof. There are narrations that Rasoolullah recited loudly during Dhuhr salah once - does that mean we should all recite loudly in Dhuhr salah - considering the fact that reciting loudly in Dhuhr will nullify your salah? There are narrations that Rasoolullah did not make sajdah when the verse of sajdah at the end of Surah an-Najm was recited to him. Does that mean we should not do so either?

We have to understand the context of each of the narrations. Perhaps Rasoolullah was reciting loudly to emphasize a few ayaat that were revealed? Perhaps he did not have wudhu so he could not do the sajdah?

We have to look at how the sahaba followed and practiced upon the sunnah, not just rely on what has been narrated from Rasoolullah . This is because the "final" and "completed" sunnah can be seen amongst the sahaba, whereas some narrations from Rasoolullah may have been before a ruling was abrogated or there may have been special circumstances. We don't see the sahaba combining prayers when they were not traveling - and even then, the Hanafis say that the sahaba did not combine the prayers but they delayed Dhuhr to near its end time but prayed it within it and as they were finishing, 'Asr time started and they then prayed 'Asr within its time.

[interbaoui]

Regarding combining, do we just pray two rakats for each prayer then? I am a bit confused :S After the two rakats for Dhuhr, do I just get up and give niyyat and go straight to two rakats for Asr?

Remember, this only applies when you're a traveler. I do not know if the Shafi'is differ on the definition of a traveler, but the Hanafis say that one is a traveler if he travels more than 77 kilometres (or 88 kilometres according to some measurements) from his place of residence.

And yes, you pray these two rakats qasr of Dhuhr and 'Asr just as how you would pray Fajr salah, where you pray two units of two - but instead of two units of sunnah and two units of fardh, you're praying two units of Dhuhr fardh qasr and two units of 'Asr fardh qasr.

[JanetMorris]

Sister, we cannot use singular ahadeeth as proof. There are narrations that Rasoolullah recited loudly during Dhuhr salah once - does that mean we should all recite loudly in Dhuhr salah - considering the fact that reciting loudly in Dhuhr will nullify your salah? There are narrations that Rasoolullah did not make sajdah when the verse of sajdah at the end of Surah an-Najm was recited to him. Does that mean we should not do so either?

We have to understand the context of each of the narrations. Perhaps Rasoolullah was reciting loudly to emphasize a few ayaat that were revealed? Perhaps he did not have wudhu so he could not do the sajdah?

We have to look at how the sahaba followed and practiced upon the sunnah, not just rely on what has been narrated from Rasoolullah . This is because the "final" and "completed" sunnah can be seen amongst the sahaba, whereas some narrations from Rasoolullah may have been before a ruling was abrogated or there may have been special circumstances. We don't see the sahaba combining prayers when they were not traveling - and even then, the Hanafis say that the sahaba did not combine the prayers but they delayed Dhuhr to near its end time but prayed it within it and as they were finishing, 'Asr time started and they then prayed 'Asr within its time.

Alhamdulillah br abdulwahhab. I was already highly aware of these points before posting. But I re-take your points on board. I agree with them all.
Hence my hesitation with posting what I did post. And now I am cautious and concerned as to wether it is best to delete it. So I have edited it.