Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 555❖ Question:
If a person is performing prayer and during that time the vehicle he is supposed to travel on arrives, is he allowed to break his prayer?
If he does, should he repeat the entire prayer later, or only the remaining portion that was left?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
Yes, in this situation, he may discontinue his prayer.
❖ Explanation:
This case is similar to the situation in which a person is praying individually (alone), and during his prayer, the iqāmah (call for congregational prayer) is given.
In that case, the person is instructed to terminate his individual prayer and join the congregation, because the congregational prayer is superior to praying alone.
Likewise, when the vehicle arrives, the person’s ongoing prayer would likely be performed with restlessness and distraction, due to fear of missing the ride.
But if he delays the prayer until after boarding and settling down, he will be able to perform it with calmness and concentration (khushūʿ).
And indeed, a tranquil and composed prayer is far superior to one offered hastily or anxiously.
Ruling:
Thus, it is permissible for him to break the prayer, board the vehicle, and afterward perform the entire prayer anew with peace and presence of mind.
He should not resume the prayer from where he left off, because building upon an interrupted prayer (iqāmah ʿalā al-salāh al-munqaṭiʿah) is not supported by the Sharīʿah.
Therefore, he must perform the full prayer again from the beginning.
This is also the fatwā of Muḥaddith ʿAbdullāh Rūpṛī رحمه الله, who gave the same ruling.
ھٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
This is what I hold to be correct, and Allah knows best what is right.
