Dear Shaykh,

Sometimes I get work on Fridays in a foreign country which makes me miss the Friday prayer. What is the ruling on this work? Note that I get the chance to invite people to Islam at these gatherings.

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful,

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessing be upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his household, his companions and those who have followed him. To proceed:

There is nothing good in work that keeps you from the Friday prayer! A serious warning has been related about missing the Friday prayer in the likes of this hadith from the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him): “People should stop missing the Friday prayers or Allah will seal their hearts and they will be among the neglectful.” Also, his saying (blessings and peace be upon him): “Whoever misses three Friday prayers out of neglect, his heart will be sealed.” So, search for alternative employment that will enable you to do what Allah has made obligatory on you, and know that Allah’s world is wide and that whoever leaves something for the sake of Allah, Allah will compensate him with something better than it and that if you fear poverty, Allah will enrich you from His Bounty.

And Allah Almighty is the Most High, and He knows best.