Can I Take a Job If There Is a Small Possibility I May Miss Some Prayers?

Answered by Shaykh Jamir Meah

Question: Assalamu alaykum

I am considering working at a grocery store. Lunch and break are scheduled by our manager. If it is time to pray during lunch/break, I will offer my prayers.

Would it be permissible to take this job if I am reasonably certain that I can perform all prayers on time, although there is a small possibility I may miss some prayers?

Answer: Wa’alaykum assalam. I pray you’re well insha ‘Allah. May Allah reward you for being concerned about your prayers during work, as well as striving to pay off your student loan debt off as soon as possible.

It would be permissible take the job if you are reasonably sure that you can perform all the prayers on time, and even if there is a small possibility you may miss some prayers occasionally.

However, it would be a good idea to work out precautionary measures in advance, should you be faced with the rare situation where you may miss a prayer at work. These could include:
– Speaking to your employer in advance, and explaining to him how important it is for you to pray on time, and whether it is possible to pray outside of the usual break times if the situation requires it. You could pray in the briefest manner at these times, omitting sunna acts of the prayer if absolutely necessary.

-Speak to an understandable colleague if you feel you may miss a prayer on that particular day. Perhaps they won’t mind swapping breaks times.

-Pray two prayers close together. For example, if the break time is difficult to pray each prayer at their earliest times, pray Dhur near to when Asr will come in, then pray Asr as soon as it comes in.

Please also refer to the following answers for me information:

What Should I Do If I Have No Time To Pray At Work?

Is It Permissible to Delay Prayers Due to Work and Heavy Traffic?

How Can I Pray on Time With My Very Busy Job and Very Long Hours?

May Allah make things easy for you, and grant you every success.

Warmest salams,
[Shaykh] Jamir Meah

Shaykh Jamir Meah grew up in Hampstead, London. In 2007, he traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he spent nine years studying the Islamic sciences on a one-to-one basis under the foremost scholars of the Ribaat, Tarim, with a main specialization and focus on Shafi’i fiqh. In early 2016, he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continues advanced studies in a range of Islamic sciences, as well as teaching. Jamir is a qualified homeopath.