Title: When the Prayer time is about to expire… Question: I have two questions regarding praying in time: What is more important, to pray in the time without Taharah or to pray out of the time with Taharah . For example, if in an extraordinary circumstances a person found that there are only few minutes remaining before sunset and he has to make Wudu' or Tayammum [1] to pray Asr prayer before the sunset, but he needs a long time to reach the place where he can find water for Wudu' or suitable object for Tayammum , What should he do in this case? Should he pray Asr prayer before the sunset even without Wudu' and without Tayammum ? Or should he make his Wudu' or Tayammum even if he will pray Asr prayer after the sunset (i.e. out of the time of Asr .) Which is more important, to pray in the time without Khoshoo' (i.e. praying very fast) or to pray out of time with Khoshoo' (i.e. praying slowly). Let us take the same example. Here, If a person prayed slowly (with Khoshoo' ), the time of Asr prayer will expire while he is still in the first Rak'ah . However, If he prayed very fast (without khoshoo') he can complete at least more than one Rak'ah before the sunset. What should he do here? Should he pray very fast to complete at least more than one Rak'ah before the sunset? Or should he pray slowly with khoshoo' even if the time of Asr prayer will expire while he is still in the first Rak'ah ? I hope that the question and the examples are clear. Actually, I have passed through somehow similar circumstance before and at that time I was hesitating what to do and which thing is more important in the Islamic Shari`ah . Regards, Khalid Salem Qatar Answer: If such a situation occurs, while one is residing at his own home and water is accessible in the normal manner, then one has to perform ablution before offering one's prayers. If, on the other hand, one is not in the comforts of his own home or if water is not available in a manner in which it is generally accessed, then one should perform Tayammum before saying one's prayers. Tayammum can be performed with a stone, dry earth or a wall. Therefore, I really cannot imagine a place, which lacks the requirements for Tayammum . This really implies that under all circumstances, one must perform Wudhu , if required, before offering Sala'h . In case water is not available or if one is suffering from an ailment in which the use of water can be harmful or if one is in a state of journey, then one may perform Tayammum , in place of Wudhu . As in the case of the first case, one should try to offer one's prayers with full concentration, attention and surrender to the Almighty. However, under the referred circumstance, one may shorten one's qiyaam by opting to recite a shorter part of the Qur'an after the recitation of Al-Faatihah . My dear brother, if such a situation has occurred due to circumstances, which were not under the control of the individual, then at whichever time he offers his prayers, as soon as he gets the opportunity, his prayers would be as if offered at the right time. If, on the other hand, such a situation has resulted due to the negligence of the individual, then he should sincerely seek forgiveness of the Almighty and resolve to try his utmost to avoid such a situation from taking place in future. I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad September 8, 2001 [1] Dry ablution.