Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Mr. Burhaan,

 

I want to ask very simple question.

 

In my office, a few people read Quran after reaching office in the morning and they do not compete the urgnet official work, till thay devote one or half hour in reaching Quran.

 

Further, they go out of the office (to Mosque) to perform Duhar prayer (while there is a big makeshift mosque in the office buildinng, where more than 50 people say their prayer. Those who go outside for duhar prayer come back after 45 minutes. Than thay take lunch for 45 minutes.

 

Now, out of 8 hours duty time, they spent almost 3 hours on prayer and lunch. I am not against reading Quran and saying prayer in the office but does Islam allow to do these things in the office hours, for which they are being paid ?

 

The height is that, after doing such things, they claim to be the model of Islam.

 

Pleaes guide me.

 

Regards,

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Read quran in office time

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Q-1: In my office, a few people read Quran after reaching office in the morning and they do not compete the urgnet official work, till thay devote one or half hour in reaching Quran.

As far as reading the Quran during office hours is concerned,  it would not be right for the people to devote a time they have been paid for working in the recitation of the Quran.   If they wish to recite the Quran for a period of time,  they should do so on their own time:  either at their homes,  or come to office a half hour early,  or stay in office a half hour late to compensate for the time they have used.  

 

Q-2: Further, they go out of the office (to Mosque) to perform Duhar prayer (while there is a big makeshift mosque in the office buildinng, where more than 50 people say their prayer. Those who go outside for duhar prayer come back after 45 minutes. Than thay take lunch for 45 minutes.

Regarding the performing of obligatory prayers,  it is a duty unto all believers that they should perform them on time in congregation.   If one does not wish to perform his obligatory prayers in the makeshift mosque and wishes to take the better option of praying in congregation at the nearest masjid,  there is no harm;  provided he prays only the four rakahs of the obligatory prayers and immediately joins his duty thereafter.   If the person sincerely fears Allah Subhanah and wishes to follow what is right and better,  he must pray his voluntary Sunnah and Nafl prayers at home later.   It does not behove a believer,  who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day,  to make his prayers and worship an excuse for mis-appropriating the time he is being paid to work in the office.   If the person is indeed sincere,  it would be better and purer for him to either come in early or stay late after office hours and compensate the time he has used for his personal worship.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your Brother in Islam,

 

 

Burhan