Offering Salah in the workplace

(Part No. 8; Page No. 53) Offering Salah in the workplace Fatwa no. 1303 Praise is due to Allah, Alone. Peace be upon the last Prophet.The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' has reviewed the inquiry number 3/5992 dated 5/5/1396 A.H. and the attachments therewith submitted to His Eminence the President from his Highness the Prince of Al-Riyadh and referred to the Permanent Committee from the General Secretariat with number 2/794 dated 9/5/1396 A.H.. The inquiry deals with the request of the Head of the Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (CPVPV) in Al-Zulfah to the bank employees to offer Zuhr (Noon) prayer in congregation in the neighboring Masjid (mosque), while the Bank manager refuses and feels that they should offer Zhuhr in the bank. His Royal Highness Prince of Al-Riyadh requests a Fatwa with regard to this matter.

After reviewing the question, the Committee responded as follows:The verbal and practical Sunnah of the Messenger (peace be upon him) is to offer congregational Salah in the Masjid. The Prophet (peace be upon him) thought of setting fire to the houses of those who did not attend the congregational Salah. The Caliphs and the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet- may Allah be pleased with them all) used to offer Salah in congregation in the Masjid. It has been authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, (Part No. 8; Page No. 54) "Whoever hears the call (Adhan) and does not come to it (the prayer), then there is no prayer for him except with an excuse.” It is also authentically reported that A blind man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, 'O Messenger of Allah! I have no one to guide me to the Masjid (mosque).' He, therefore, asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to grant him permission (to offer Salah in his house). He (the Prophet) granted him permission. When the man turned away, he called him and said, 'Do you hear the call to prayer?' He said, 'Yes.' He (the Prophet then) said, 'Respond to it.'" According to another narration, he said, "I find no concession for you." .Therefore, the bank employees should offer Zhuhr in congregation in the nearby Masjid and thus abide by the Sunnah, perform the obligation, and block the means of taking false excuses as a pretext to abandon offering Salah in the Masjid; distancing themselves from resembling hypocrites.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.