The `Asr Prayer for people studying abroad

Q: Those who travel to America to study (Part No. 5; Page No. 130) are often faced with a problem when the time of `Asr (Afternoon) Prayer is due, as their lectures start immediately before `Asr Prayer and continue till sunset. There is no doubt that it is not easy to get daily permission to be excused from class to offer Salah (Prayer), given that there are some activities, in which it is difficult for some students to leave the others, such as aviation classes and other subjects which require collective work.Is it possible to combine `Asr Prayer with Zhuhr (Noon) Prayer at the time of the latter, and the same for Zhuhr Prayer as sometimes lectures extend until after the due time of the `Asr Prayer? Is it permissible to delay Zhuhr Prayer and combine it with `Asr Prayer at the time of the latter as well?

A: They have to offer each Salah at its due time. The difficulty of getting daily permission to offer Salah is not an excuse to delay Salah until its due time is over. Allah (Exalted be He) says: Verily, As-Salât (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours. This means an obligation to be performed at a fixed time during which a Muslim should offer it.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.