When Prayer on Time Collides with Others' Rights: Which Duty Comes First?
Can the virtue of praying on time justify keeping citizens waiting during office hours? In Shia jurisprudence, praying at the beginning of the prescribed time holds a special place. However, this virtue does not mean ignoring people's rights or professional obligations. When performing a recommended act conflicts with fulfilling an obligatory one, respecting others' rights and commitment to job responsibilities take serious priority, a principle that can define the line between personal piety and professional accountability.
According to the Missionary's Thought and Culture Base, is it possible to leave Arrab Rajou waiting behind the office door under the pretext of early prayer? The first prayer has a special virtue in Shiite culture, but adherence to job responsibility and respect for people's rights is also considered a part of religious ethics. Examining the jurisprudential foundations and administrative regulations shows that the problem is not the conflict between prayer and service; Rather, it is finding a way to perform worship without violating the rights of the visitors.
When the call to prayer sounds, the queue stops
Imagine that you have taken an hour off from work to do some office work, you have traveled a relatively long way, and after waiting for a while, your turn is approaching. Just at this moment, the employee behind the desk gets up and says: "It's time for prayer!"
The counter remains empty, the line stops and the hands of the clock move slower than ever for those who each have their own predicament and limitation. An old man who came to the office from the village to get a simple signature mutters: "God accept it, but what should we do?"
This scene is familiar to many people; A situation that, on the surface, puts two important values against each other: performing worship at the first opportunity and adhering to job responsibility. But can the virtue of early prayer be a justification for delaying people? From the point of view of Shia jurisprudence, is it possible to give up our duty to perform a mustahab act?
The answer to this question requires distinguishing between the virtue of the first prayer, one's shari'a duties, and one's professional obligations.
first prayer time; A great virtue, not a license to ignore people's rights
In the religious culture of Shia, the first prayer has a privileged position. The Holy Quran says:
"Indeed, the prayers were written on the believers"
Prayers are prescribed for believers at certain times. (Nasa: 103)
In a narration from Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, it is also stated:
"The grace of the first time is upon the last, and the grace of the hereafter upon the world"
The superiority of prayer in the first time over the prayer in the last time is like the superiority of the hereafter over this world. (Wasil al-Shia, vol. 4; the page number should be matched with the edition used.)
This narration shows the position of the first prayer in religious teachings; Worship that helps with spiritual order, paying attention to God and arranging life based on divine tasks. In the discussions of Martyr Morteza Motahari about the role of worship in human education, we can also emphasize the importance of spiritual discipline and the effect of worship on individual life.
However, the virtue of early prayer does not mean that performing this act in any situation takes precedence over all other responsibilities. There should be a difference between the principle of obligatory prayer at the appointed time and the virtue of performing it at the first opportunity. Dhuhr and Asr prayers can be performed within their time limit, in compliance with Sharia conditions, and delaying from the beginning of the time does not necessarily mean leaving the obligation.
On the other hand, the employee is also responsible to the client. Office hours are a part of his job commitment and the salary he receives is paid against performing certain tasks. The Holy Quran says in the first verse of Surah Ma'idah:
Keep promises. (Maeda: 1)
This verse tells the general principle about fulfilling obligations. Based on this, occupational responsibility and adherence to assigned duties can be regarded as important examples of trustworthiness and social commitment.
Therefore, the main question is not whether prayer is more important or administrative work; The question is how to fulfill the religious duty without ignoring the rights of the people.
When doing what is recommended conflicts with job responsibility
In jurisprudence, the concept of "conflict" refers to a situation in which it is not possible to perform two tasks at the same time, and the priority task must be recognized based on Shari'a criteria.
If the employee stops the service in order to offer the first time prayer and this stop causes the client's right to be violated or an obligatory duty is violated, the mere virtue of the first time prayer is not enough to justify such behavior. In the assumption that a mandatory duty conflicts with a recommended action, the principle is the priority of the obligatory; Of course, determining the exact verdict depends on the actual conditions of the situation and related jurisprudence.
For example, if the client comes to the office to do something necessary and the delay in processing his request causes loss or violation of his right, the employee should check the possibility of processing that request before leaving the service desk. On the other hand, if a short break is possible without violating the rights of the people and in compliance with administrative regulations, it is possible to plan for offering prayers.
In this context, in response to a question about performing congregational prayers in government offices and institutions, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei has been quoted as saying that there is no obstacle to performing prayers and expressing religious rules and teachings during congregational prayer, including during the holy month of Ramadan and other holy days; Provided that the rights of the clients are not violated.
This stipulation is the central point of the discussion: holding congregational prayers in the workplace does not in itself conflict with administrative responsibility; The problem arises when the implementation of the worship program leads to the unnecessary stoppage of services or ignoring people's rights.
As a result, prayer cannot be considered unimportant due to the existence of occupational responsibility, nor can occupational responsibility be ignored citing the virtue of prayer. The solution is to properly manage the situation and comply with Sharia and legal priorities.
Quran; From humility in prayer to trustworthiness
In the opening verses of Surah al-Mu'minun, after referring to the humility of the believers in prayer, the Holy Qur'an speaks of those who keep their trusts and covenants:
"And those who are for their trusts and their promises"
And those who keep their trusts and agreements. (The Believers: 8)
The coexistence of these two features in the description of believers can be a reminder of the link between worship and responsibility. Humility in prayer and keeping trust are two manifestations of religiosity that should not be placed against each other.
From this point of view, the employee should also consider his responsibility as a trust that he has taken before the people and the organization. Just as he needs order and attention to perform worship, he must be trustworthy, accurate and responsive in performing his job duties.
What does the law say? Administrative responsibility cannot be ignored
The issue of respecting the rights of clients is not only a moral and jurisprudential debate; It is also important in the framework of employment and administrative regulations.
Article 87 of the Civil Service Management Law deals with the working hours of government employees and specifies the framework related to their working time. However, this article alone is not enough to prove that every time leaving the desk for the purpose of prayer is considered an administrative violation. Detection of a possible violation should be done according to the relevant employment and disciplinary regulations, the instructions of the executive body and the conditions of each case.
The important principle is that the employee is obliged to comply with the regulations and perform assigned responsibilities during office hours. Planning for prayer should also be done in such a way as to prevent the unnecessary interruption of services and violation of the rights of the clients as much as possible.
Therefore, referring to the law should not lead to the impression that prayer is prohibited in the workplace; In the same way, invoking the virtue of prayer cannot be a license to ignore administrative obligations.
The art of management in work environments, especially busy offices, is this: providing the possibility of performing worship, without disrupting the service process.
What is the solution? No closure of service, no waiver of worship
Placing prayer and service in front of each other is not the only possible way. With proper planning, it is possible to provide conditions for employees to fulfill their religious duties and people do not have to wait unnecessarily to receive essential services.