Trade During Prayer Time

5. Trade During Prayer Time

Is there an islamic law or an islamic opinion prohibited opening trading market or shop during an obligatory prayer times ?

Then, it’s an obligatory for all of muslims (men) to perform the five the obligatory prayers in the mosque with imam and congregation, and not missing them in easily way or by getting busy with anykind of business of trading or works in the office, etc.

As Allah said : “Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salat (i.e. the best prayer – Asr) and stand before Allah with obedience [and do not speak to others during the Salat (prayers)]. (Al-Baqarah : 238).

And He also said : “So woe unto those performers of Salat (prayers) (Hypocrites), Those who delay their salat (prayer from their stated fixed times)”. (Al-Ma’un : 4-5).

And Said : “Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have given up As-Salat (the prayers) [i.e. made their salat (Prayers) to be lost, either by not offering them or by not offering them perfectly or by not offering them in their proper fixed times] and have followed lusts. So they will be thrown in Hell”. (Maryam : 59).

And Said : “When you [O Messenger Muhammad (Pbuh)] are among them, and lead them in As-Salat (prayer), let one party of them stand up [in Salat (prayer)] with you taking their arms with them”. (An-Nisa : 102).

And then Allah ordered his prophet (Pbuh) to offer prayer with the congregation in case of fight or fear, so then in case of peace it’s more superior and preferred.

And once, when the Prophet (Pbuh) told his companions about prayer (shalat), “Who kept shalat it will become enlightment, argument and safety for him on the day of resurrection, and he who didn’t keep it, then he will not have an enlightment, argument and not be saved on that time, and he will be together then with Fir’aun (Pharaoh), Haman, Qarun and Ubai Ibn Khalaf.” (Narrated by Ahmad with Hasan sanad).

Part of scholars in explaning this hadith said : He who will be gathered in the hereafter are who left his salat with the disbelievers, if he missed it in cause of an authority so then he will be as like as Fir’aun (Pharaoh) then he will be gathered with him.

And if he missed it in cause of collecting wealth and fulfilling desires, so then, he resembles to Qarun which Allah destroyed him and his town. And if he missed it in cause of trading and kinds of business, Allah make him equal with Ubai Ibn Khalaf the trader of people of Makkah (disbelievers). So then, he will be gathered with him in the fire (hell) in the hereafter.

And it was confirmed in Sahih Muslim that the blind man came to the Messenger of Allah then said : “O Messenger of Allah ! I’ve no guide to guide me (to the mosque), so is there any exception to perform salat in my house ? then the prophet (pbuh) said : Do you hear athan (call to prayer) ? he said : Yes!, then the Prophet (pbuh) said : so then Anwer!”.

So then, if the blind which has no guide to guide him to go to the mosque should perform his prayer with congregation, so then, the others are more preferred and stressed.

It’s the duty of every muslim to perform all orders of Allah like prayer on the fixed time in the mosque which the call of prayer comes from.

And it’s ought to every muslim to explain every trader who refuse to stop their transaction on the trading on time of prayer those laws and argument from Qur’an and Sunnah and what muslims have been done since the lifetime of Prophet and should remove all hindrances to perform this obligatory which its obligation limit differentiates between faith and disbelief, as the prophet (pbuh) said : “Between the man and the kufur is leaving Salat”. [Narrated by Muslim from the authority of Jabir (May Allah be Gracious to him)].

May Allah Guide those who pay attention to this matter into what He likes and Help them in remembrance, thanking and worshipping Him.