Dealing with the red alert announced while people are offering Salah

(Part No. 6; Page No. 344)  Breaking Salah Fatwa no. 13998 All Praise is due to Allah alone, and peace and blessings be upon the last Prophet.The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’ has studied the question which was referred to His Eminence, the Grand Mufty by His Eminence, the General Manager of the departments of Religious Affairs of the armed forces, No. 2/10/ 2499 on 14/7/1411 A.H. which was submitted to the Committee by the General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Scholars No. 3195 on 15/7/1411 A.H. His Eminence asked a question mentioned in the letter of the President of the Religious Affairs in the Northern and Eastern Base of King `Abdul-`Aziz which reads as follows:We would like to inform you that we had several questions from the army men of the base concerning the taken measures during the red alert which happens from time to time while people are offering Salah whether in congregations in the Masjid (mosque) or on a ship or individually like women or offering supererogatory Salah. How should we complete Salah? Should we break Salah? If a person breaks his Salah, should they repeat it or resume from the point at which they broke Salah or should they continue their Salah (Part No. 6; Page No. 345) while hiding in a secure place or while going to the required place whether on a ship or office according to the type of their mission. If the matter requires only wearing a mask, can they wear it during Salah?So we submit these questions hoping that you send them to the Shar‘y (Islamic legal) concerned bodies to answer them. I hope that the answers will be inclusive and quick because of the importance of the matter. As-salamu ‘alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah’s Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!).


After the Committee had studied the question, it answered as follows:First, all the people who are not in war and not in danger have to complete Salah at hearing the sirens or alarms because of the lack of danger in most cases.Second, those who are in locations of danger such as those on ships, airports, military bases and those who are facing the enemy have to take the necessary measures of precaution and confrontation at hearing sirens and alarms because of Allah’s Saying: O you who believe! Take your precautions They have to repeat the entire Salah when the state of danger ends, if it is an obligatory Salah. As for the voluntary Salah, there is no need to repeat it. (Part No. 6; Page No. 346) Third, whoever needs to wear a mask during Salah, he may wear it during Salah and there is no harm in doing so.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.


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