Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Dato’ Seri Mufti, I want to ask regarding a guideline as to the right way to pray on a small boat. It is generally known that Malaysians love to fish and it is a great hobby. As an example, a person would usually go out to fish at sea for 8 hours. Leaving as early as six in the morning and come back home at six in the evening. While out on the fishing trip, it is hard to perform the prayer as well as ablution, being in a cramped fishing boat. Thus, many people who went fishing neglect their prayer. Hope for an explanation on the right way to pray on a small fishing boat so that anglers can perform their prayers. That’s all, thank you.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wbt,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Prayer is the second pillar of Islam after believing in Allah SWT. It is also an obligated worship to be performed in any situation. Allah SWT states:
إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا
“Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.”
Surah al-Nisa’ (103)
Prayer on Small Boats
Coming back to the above question, it is hard to perform prayer on small boats is not an excuse for neglecting one’s prayer altogether. The reason is, prayer is an obligatory worship. Allah SWT states:
وَأمُر أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلاَةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا
“And enjoin prayer upon your family [and people] and be steadfast therein.”
Surah Taha (132)
Performing ablution while on a small boat using seawater is permissible. This is due to the fact that seawater is pure water that can be used to purify oneself in order to perform prayer.
Dr Muhammad Zuhaili in his book states: “Water that is pure and is able to purify are; rain, water from flowing rivers, seawater, water from springs and snow.” (See al-Mu’tamad fi al-Fiqh al-Syafi’e, 1/37)
Performing prayer on any small boat is valid if it fulfils the requisites and valid conditions. Fulfilling its conditions such as facing the qibla as stated by Allah SWT in the Quran:
وَمِنْ حَيْثُ خَرَجْتَ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ
“And from wherever you go out [for prayer], turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] may be, turn your faces toward it,”
Surah al-Baqarah (150)
The same for the obligation to stand if one is able to do so. Allah SWT states:
حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا لِلَّـهِ قَانِتِينَ
“Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.”
Surah al-Baqarah (238)
Dr Muhammad Zuhaili in his book states, the above verse is a commandment to stand and it is an obligation. And the verse means that it is not an obligation to stand except in prayer. (See al-Mu’tamad fi al-Fiqh al-Syafi’e, 1/243)
Furthermore, in hadith, Imran bin Hussain who suffers from haemorrhoids asked the Prophet PBUH regarding prayer. The Prophet PBUH said:
صَلِّ قَائِمًا، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَقَاعِدًا، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَى جَنْبٍ
"Pray while standing and if you can't, pray while sitting and if you cannot do even that, then pray Lying on your side."
Sahih al-Bukhari (1117)
Imam al-Nawawi explained about praying on a boat, it is wajib to stand if one is able to do so the same as the obligation to face the qibla. This is stated in his book:
“If a person is performing prayer on a boat, it is impermissible to leave the requisite of standing just like when one is on land. This is also the opinion of Imam Malik and Imam Ahmad. The opinion of Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Ahmad. According to the opinion of Imam Abu Hanifah, it is permissible to not stand when the boat is moving. The same is stated in the opinion of madhhab Syafi’e which states that if there is an infirmity or debility such as seasickness and others, then it is permissible to sit to pray. And if his position is moved (away from facing the qibla) due to the wind, then it is obligatory for him to move and face the qibla again.” (See al-Majmu’ Syarah al-Muhazzab, 3/242)
Conclusion
Coming back to the question, it can be concluded that according to the above discussion and evidences, going fishing on small boats is not an excuse to not pray. Thus, for anglers, it is best to learn the right way to perform prayer on small boats to fulfil the completeness of prayer.
- Performing ablution and clean one’s clothes which has najis with seawater is permissible for it is included as mutlak water (water that is pure and is able to purify).
- One must face the qibla when praying and this is one of the valid conditions of prayer. If he is moved away from the qibla due to the wind then he is obligated to turn back and face the qibla.
- Stand while praying and perform all the requisites of prayer as he is able to. And if there is any infirmity or debility, such as seasickness or fear that he might injure himself, then it is permissible to sit to perform the prayer.
- If one is unable to fulfil the requisites of prayer such as being unable to face the qibla, then it is sanctioned to pray respect to prayer time and it is obligated for him to qadha’ (replace) his prayer when he arrives at the destination.
Hopefully, with this explanation anglers will not leave or neglect their prayers and perform their prayers the best they could. This is in accordance with a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah RA, where the Prophet PBUH said:
فإذا نهيتكم عن شيء فاجتنبوه، وإذا أمرتكم بأمر فأتوا منه ما استطعتم
“So, if I forbid you to do something, then keep away from it. And if I order you to do something, then do of it as much as you can."
Sahih al-Bukhari (7288)