[Q 427] Bowling That Distracts From Salah, Is It Haram to Miss Salah Due to Games? Delaying Salah for Bowling is Haram

QUESTION:

Mufti Saab Salam if a person goes bowling and it distracts him from Namaz is it haram

ANSWER:

It is necessary to perform Namaz (Salah) within its appointed time, and if the conditions of Wujub-e-Jama’at (obligation of congregational prayer) are present, then for men it is Wajib (compulsory) to offer the prayer in congregation at the Masjid (mosque). Commitment to this is so essential that during its time, even engaging in other virtuous acts like Tilawat-e-Qur’an (recitation of the Qur’an) or Zikr-o-Azkar (remembrance of Allah) is not permitted — let alone being occupied with Lahw-o-La’ib (vain play/amusement).

Therefore, without a Shar’i excuse, if one delays or misses prayer due to any activity, it is impermissible (Na-ja’iz) and Haram (forbidden) — and is a deed that leads to Hell.

Being present in the congregational prayer holds more emphasis than even performing Nafli Ibadat (optional acts of worship). In Musannaf ‘Abd al-Razzaq, it is narrated:

عن سلیمن ابن ابی حثمۃ عن امہ الشفاء بنت عبداللہ قالت دخل علی عمر وعندی رجلان نائمان تعنی زوجھا اباحثمۃ و ابنھا سلیمن فقال اما صلیا الصبح قلت لم یزالایصلیان حتی اصبحا فصلیا الصبح وناما فقال لان اشھد الصبح فی جماعۃ احب الی من قیام لیلۃ۔

Translation: Imam ‘Abd al-Razzaq narrated from Ma’mar, from his mother Shifa bint ‘Abdullah, that ‘Umar رضي الله تعالى عنه once came to her and found two men sleeping (referring to her husband Abu Hithmah and her son Sulayman). He asked, “Have they not prayed Fajr?” She replied, “They remained engaged in prayer the whole night until morning came, then they prayed Fajr and slept.” He said: “Attending the Fajr prayer in congregation is more beloved to me than standing in prayer the whole night.”

(al-Musannaf li ‘Abd al-Razzaq, Volume 1, Page 524, Maktabah Islami, Beirut)

Translated answer
Date: 9th July 2025.