Can I Delay the Sunna Prayers of Zuhr Because of School?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

Can I delay the emphasised sunna prayers of Zuhr to Asr time because of school?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

The emphasised sunna prayers are to be prayed within their respective times, and they are deemed missed if the time exits.

For the noon (zuhr) prayer, this includes four cycles (rak‘as) before the obligatory prayer, and two afterwards. All of these cycles [including the obligatory prayer] need only take around ten minutes in total.

Do the best you can. Perhaps try splitting the prayers up so you pray the four cycles during your lunch break, with the obligatory prayer, and then the two before you head home. Ask Allah Most High for ease and facilitation.

Please also see: Are We Sinful for Missing Sunnah Prayers, or Are They Just for Extra Reward? and: Details Regarding Witr, Confirmed Sunna, and Non-Confirmed Sunna Prayers

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.