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Does the statement of some scholars that whoever delays the prayer until its time has expired has committed major disbelief apply to me, given that I sometimes delay the Dhuhr prayer due to severe drowsiness, and sometimes the Fajr prayer due to inability to perform ghusl?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Scholars differ concerning the ruling on one who intentionally delays the prayer until its time has expired. A person who wakes up in a state of janabah (major ritual impurity) must perform ghusl (ritual bath) and pray before the time expires. If they cannot find water or are unable to use it, they must perform tayammum (dry ablution) and pray before the time expires. Whoever intentionally abandons prayer until its time expires, without performing ghusl or tayammum, is sinful and has committed a major sin. It is not permissible to delay prayer beyond its prescribed time due to fatigue or drowsiness, unless the fatigue is extremely severe. In such a case, some scholars have permitted combining the first prayer by delaying it with the one that follows, if it is among those prayers that can be combined.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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