Ruling on joining prayers because non-Muslims do not like to see someone praying
2-5-2017 | IslamWeb
Question:
I am studying in a Jewish college and it is not possible for me to pray during class times. Furthermore, the Jews do not like to see us pray in public places. As such, I pray sitting in my car at the time of the Thuhr and ‘Asr, as I would also be unable to keep my ablution if I were to leave the campus. Is this acceptable from a sharia perspective?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
First of all, let us make note of the necessity of distancing yourself from studying at such a college if another place is available since studying there may lead you to see vile things that could have an effect on your religion. Added to that is the lack of full capability to complete your religious rituals in their entirety and, furthermore, this could cause you discomfort and harm.
If you must study there due to the absence of another place and the only issue is that they do not like seeing anyone pray inside the college without any harm befalling you, then you must perform the prayer at its due time and after fulfilling all conditions, including performing ablution, even if you perform the prayer inside the bathroom, according to the words of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, who said, "The prayer of one of you is not accepted if he made Hadath [urinating, defecating, passing wind, and so on] until he performs ablution." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
If you are unable to complete the prayer during school hours and the end of the school day comes before sunset, giving you enough time to pray Thuhr and ‘Asr, then delay both prayers until you can join them together due to the hardship that you are facing.
Finally, if your studies completely prevent you from fulfilling your duty of praying, then you must leave this study and search for another means of studying or earning, and Allah will not fail you.
He, the Exalted, says (what means): {Whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out, and He will provide for him from where he does not expect.} [Quran 65:2-3]
Allah knows best.