As Salaam,

Because of the fast paced life of Americans I am wondering how some of you deal with praying Salat when you work, go to school, go to football and basketball games, etc. How do you fit Salat into your life?

wa alaikum asalaam..

Very simple, when I work, I work noc shift, except when I am on an assignment in an office..

My lunch time is zhur (dhur) prayer, Asr is my afternoon break time, I run to get home well before the sun sets...

when I work graveyards my sleeping time is between the time I get home and Zhur prayer..

Easier on the graveyard shift, I do NO afternoon shifts..

It would cover the span of three prayers!

Assalamualikum senekerk. Well sometimes it is a problem, like when you have class or especially exam spanning the whole duration of Asr and Maghrib prayers. I would like to share with you my experiences.

A few years ago I had to sit for several exams starting from 4.30 pm to 7.30pm. During that time here, Asr started at around about 4.45pm and Maghrib started at around 6.50pm. So it was a big headache for me as to how I would say my prayers because I, for a single instance, never thought of missing prayers. Especially, duirng that period, I was having this reawakening about Islam. Of course in the exam hall, they won't allow you to go outside for saying prayers. So what I did was that I excused myself for going to the toilet, and I had this sort of free space just infront of the exam hall, and I prayed there, then went to the toilet(I needed to!) and came back.

Again, a few months ago, i had an exam of 2 hrs in the afternoon. This time the invigilator, who happened to be my relative and I had known him to be a devoted muslim, did not allow me to go even to the toilet(I seriously needed to go there!). I was prepared for this, so I said my exam was over anyways and I must leave.  He asked me whether I wanted to go outside for Asr prayers. I answered in the affirmative, and he directed me to an empty bit of space right at the end of the hall. I went there, said my prayers, again took my seat and finished the exam. One of my friends also performed prayers in the exam hall.

So, you see senekerk, if there is a will there is a way.  Allah has made every bit of land in this planet eligible for praying salat. So wherever you are, in a conference, in an exam hall, in a basketball court, when it's time to perform salat, just do it. Don't think of what other people will think of you. Ya, at first, almost everyone will be looking at you in astonishment, but then everyone has their own business. You don't need to care what others will think. Just shrug it off.

Allah is with you everywhere.

Ghazzali wrote: Assalamualikum senekerk. Well sometimes it is a problem, like when you have class or especially exam spanning the whole duration of Asr and Maghrib prayers. I would like to share with you my experiences. A few years ago I had to sit for several exams starting from 4.30 pm to 7.30pm. During that time here, Asr started at around about 4.45pm and Maghrib started at around 6.50pm. So it was a big headache for me as to how I would say my prayers because I, for a single instance, never thought of missing prayers. Especially, duirng that period, I was having this reawakening about Islam. Of course in the exam hall, they won't allow you to go outside for saying prayers. So what I did was that I excused myself for going to the toilet, and I had this sort of free space just infront of the exam hall, and I prayed there, then went to the toilet(I needed to!) and came back. Again, a few months ago, i had an exam of 2 hrs in the afternoon. This time the invigilator, who happened to be my relative and I had known him to be a devoted muslim, did not allow me to go even to the toilet(I seriously needed to go there!). I was prepared for this, so I said my exam was over anyways and I must leave.  He asked me whether I wanted to go outside for Asr prayers. I answered in the affirmative, and he directed me to an empty bit of space right at the end of the hall. I went there, said my prayers, again took my seat and finished the exam. One of my friends also performed prayers in the exam hall. So, you see senekerk, if there is a will there is a way.  Allah has made every bit of land in this planet eligible for praying salat. So wherever you are, in a conference, in an exam hall, in a basketball court, when it's time to perform salat, just do it. Don't think of what other people will think of you. Ya, at first, almost everyone will be looking at you in astonishment, but then everyone has their own business. You don't need to care what others will think. Just shrug it off. Allah is with you everywhere.

As Sallam alaikum

thank you for the feedback.  I volunteer at a hospital from 2pm to 4:30, and must leave my house @1:30 to get there.  so I have found a quite stall in the ladies room to pray. I take a clean towel with me to knee on.  the other day after a Dr. visit I prayed in a bathroom. so see I have figured out ways to do this when at first I thought it was impossible.  Even at home I am saying prayers on time despite the disapproval of my husband.  It is getting easier to do.  Since I live in the south I am not sure I would be able at a football game or basketball game to knee down and pray where everyone can see me, but who know what Allah (swt)will have me do.  I do pray at work, but alsways worry if I am taking too much time. I work in a bead store (where people buy beads to make jewelry) and the customer comes first. My employer is supportive.  If I understand what I learned about prayer times is that the time for Zuhr lasts ro the time Ashr begins?? right?? so sometime I may prayer Zuhr just before it is time to pray Ashr, then prayer Ashr at its time.  Is this correct???

senekerk wrote: >>>>> I volunteer at a hospital from 2pm to 4:30, and must leave my house @1:30 to get there.  so I have found a quite stall in the ladies room to pray. I take a clean towel with me to knee on.  the other day after a Dr. visit I prayed in a bathroom. so see I have figured out ways to do this when at first I thought it was impossible.  Even at home I am saying prayers on time despite the disapproval of my husband.  It is getting easier to do.  Since I live in the south I am not sure I would be able at a football game or basketball game to knee down and pray where everyone can see me, but who know what Allah (swt)will have me do.  I do pray at work, but alsways worry if I am taking too much time. I work in a bead store (where people buy beads to make jewelry) and the customer comes first. My employer is supportive.  If I understand what I learned about prayer times is that the time for Zuhr lasts ro the time Ashr begins?? right?? so sometime I may prayer Zuhr just before it is time to pray Ashr, then prayer Ashr at its time.  Is this correct???

Walalykum Assalaam:

The bath room is not the recommended place for doing prayer cuz it is not considered a clean site. You are Dr's customer, they are making money you visiting them, if you had asked the front desk a room for 5 minutes you would have gotten a it for your prayer. Just ask next time, be bold a bit.

I would suggest that do Zuhr(starts @ 1PM) just before you leave for work and do Asr when you get back home, there is plenty of time looking at your work schedule(current times for Asr are from 5:30 to 7PM)

In case of the ball game that you don't want to miss offer the prayer before you leave or be creative scout spot before hand. Where there is a will there is way!

Lastly combining Zuhr and Asr is possible but risky for locals need to watch that Zuhr time just don't slip away. This is a privilege for travelers.