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Is it permissible to interrupt prayer when earthquakes or similar natural disasters occur?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

If the prayer is supererogatory (nafila), it is permissible to interrupt it absolutely, with or without an excuse. However, if it is an obligatory (fard) prayer, it is not permissible to interrupt it except for a valid excuse. One should not interrupt an obligatory act of worship after commencing it without a legitimate reason. Among these excuses are earthquakes, floods, and similar events that threaten a person or others in their life or property, based on the general meaning of the verse: (And do not throw yourselves with your own hands into destruction). In cases of fear that threaten the worshipper themselves, they should not interrupt the prayer but rather flee and escape, even if it means turning their back on the Qibla, making many movements, and running, in accordance with the noble verse regarding the prayer of fear: (But if you are in fear, then [pray] on foot or riding), and this verse encompasses all types of fears.

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

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