Salat: In North Europe & At Similar Longitudes (Q & A) In my home town in north Germany Isha prayer in summer is due about midnight, while Fajr is about 3 a.m. Could you explain the point about combining prayers, as this is a subject of controversy? Summer represents real hardship when one tries to observe all prayers on time. Muslim scholars have looked into the timing of prayers in northern areas in summer. They have worked out certain formulas to determine when exactly Isha and Fajr prayers fall due. The normal formula for areas below latitude 45 do not apply in May, June and July in these areas. Hence, whatever timing is mentioned for such northern areas is approximate, not accurate. In order to reduce the hardship, one may offer the Isha prayer, together with Maghrib prayer, shortly after the sun has set. That gives more time for sleep and enable those who use this concession to attend to their Fajr prayer in a more relaxed way. Perhaps I should add that combining the two day-prayers, Zuhr and Asr, occasionally for convenience, and the two evening prayers, Maghrib and Isha, is appropriate. This is a concession, which is applicable in ordinary situations, and it is given for no reason other than convenience. This is simply because Islam is a religion of ease. It dislikes hardship. With the long days in summer in northern areas, there is a real hardship, which may be reduced by combining the two evening prayers. Hence, people may avail themselves of God’s concession. (Source: Our Dialogue--Arab News, Jeddah)
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 06:16:52 +0000
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