Air Travel

Air travel is a form of travel in vehicles such as helicopters, hot air balloons, blimps, gliders, hang glider, parachuting, airplanes, jet aircraft, or anything else that can sustain flight.

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Woman . Mahram . Air Travel

Is it permissible for a woman to pursue a career as a flight attendant where she has to travel without a Mahram?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 1 month ago

In Shi'i fiqh, there is no problem with a woman travelling without a mahram.

In the Sunni schools of thought, travelling without a mahram is generally considered impermissible but sometimes allowed in some situations these days. So if she is looking for an answer in accordance with one of the Sunni schools of thought, she should consult someone knowledgeable about that specific school of thought.

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Makeup . Woman . Air Travel . Employment

Is a female flight attendant allowed a certain minimal makeup, including a red lipstick, that is part of the uniform and is necessary for her work?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 year ago

It is not allowed for any Muslim female to wear any type or any degree of makeup in front of non Mahram men . If your employers force you to put red lipstick or any type of make up in front of men, then you must avoid that even if you have to leave the job if they insist on forcing you to do that, because it is against the teachings of Quran (Tell the believing women to lower their gaze and protect themselves (from sinful sexual acts) and not to show off their adornment except what is apparent .(Sura 24, Verse 31).

Wassalam.

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Sunnah . Air Travel

If following the Sunnah means to obey the rules and acts as performed by the Prophet (s) why is it allowed to travel by air to go to Makkah to do our Hajj rather than having to travel by land?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 1 year ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. If your premise was that only reported actions of the Prophet (saw) are allowed, no matter what society or context, and that everything else is forbidden, then travelling by plane would not be allowed as planes were not invented at the time of the Prophet (saw) and since he (saw) didn't travel on one, travelling on one is not allowed.

However, if your premise in following the sunnah is that all actions are allowed, except for those forbidden by the Prophet (saw), and that the rest of his (saw) actions either preferable or obligatory (that distinction being decipherable through certain means), then that would not necessitate travelling on a plane being impermissible.

Most scholars and believers work on the second type of premise and others like it rather than the first, and that is why travelling by plane (anywhere) is allowed by the vast majority.

May you always be successful.

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Salah (Prayers) . Air Travel

How can we offer Namaz in an aeroplane?

Simply, we must perform Namaz where ever we are according to the conditions of Namaz ; Wudhu, Taahir and allowed clothes, Qibla etc.

If you are in the airplane and do not know the direction of Qibla, you can ask the cabin crew about the direction of Makkah which is usually known to the captain.

If you can not stand for the whole time of Namaz, you must stand as much as you can facing the Qibla. if you can not perform Sojood, you should do the maximum that you can in standing (Qiyaam), Rukoo', and Sojood.

Wassalam.

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Qibla . Salah (Prayers) . Air Travel

How can a person perform the obligatory prayers in an airplane? How should one determine the correct Qibla and timing?

We must try to perform our obligatory Prayers (Salah) where ever we are including in an airplane. We must try to find a suitable place to stand for few minutes to pray.

The direction of Qibla can be known through the cabin crew who usually ask the pilot about the direction of Makkah. You can also see the map of the journey and check where is Makkah from your flight route. There are also Qibla applications which can help.

In case you have no way at all to know the Qibla direction, you must pray facing any direction. After praying towards any direction which is obligatory , it will be recommended (not obligatory) to pray towards the other three directions.

If you are for any reason not allowed to stand to pray in the airplane, you should pray in sitting position on your seat.

The main point here is that the obligatory Prayers Must be performed in the best possible way within its time and it is not allowed at all to leave praying the obligatory Prayers till its time goes away.

Wassalam.

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Air Travel . Ka'ba . Birds

Why is it that no birds or planes fly over the Ka'ba?

The Ka’ba is situated on the center of the earth. This is a miracle which has been confirmed and admitted by non Muslim scientists. No birds and planes can fly over the Ka’ba because of that miracle.

Wassalam.

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Salah (Prayers) . Qasr (Shortened Prayers) . Air Travel

I am on vacation and have travelled to London where I intend to stay for over 10 days. Should I offer full or Qasr prayers?

Abbas Jaffer, Sheikh Abbas Jaffer is an optometrist by profession and has a Master’s degree in Islamic Sciences. He is a part time lecturer at the Islamic College in London and is currently writing his doctoral... Answered 2 years ago

Since you will stay over 10 days, you will pray full

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Sawm (Fasting) . Air Travel

Is it optional to fast while traveling by air for about 12 hours?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 2 years ago

Bismihi ta'ala

This would all depend on what time of the day/night you are travelling, and when your are leaving your place of iqamah, which is the place of your residence or where you have intended to stay for ten days or more.

If you leave your place of iqamah after noon time, you must stay fasting. If you leave before noon, you must break your fast once you exceed the boundaries of the place of your iqamah.

As for the next day, if you arrive before noon, you are able to stay in the state of imsak, from Fajr time, until you reach your destination, and then adjust your intention and make it intention of wajib fasting.

If you arrive after noon, then you will not be able to fast for that day.

And Allah knows best.

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Sawm (Fasting) . Air Travel

Should I fast while traveling by plane for 10 hours?

Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb, Sayyed Muhammad Husaini Ragheb has a BA in Law from Guilan University, Iran and has also undertaken Hawzah studies in Qom. He is a Cultural Affairs director of Ethics Group of Al-Mustafa Open... Answered 2 years ago

You are a traveler in this case and you can't fast.
But if you intend to stay in one place for at least 10 days then you have to offer your prayers completely and also fast.
Note that if you prayed a 4 unit prayer and you changed your mind (not to stay there for 10 days, then you have to pray completely and fast as many days as you will be there, like the next 2 days...)

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Salah (Prayers) . Air Travel

If I fly from London at 11.30AM and reach Los Angeles at 4PM do I have to offer any prayers on the flight? And if on return I leave LA at 7.30PM and arrive in London at 3.00PM the next day, do I have to offer all 5 prayers on the flight?

Rebecca Masterton, Dr Rebecca Masterton graduated with a BA in Japanese Language and Literature; an MA in Comparative East Asian and African Literature and a PhD in Islamic literature of West Africa. She has been... Answered 2 years ago

Salaam alaykum, you can pray your dhuhr salah before maghrib once you arrive in LA. You need to pray maghrib-'isha, and fajr on the flight back to London. If you can pray dhuhr-'asr before maghrib in London, then you can do that, as maghrib is now approx 6:00 pm.

Salah (Prayers) . Air Travel

Salamun Alaykum

You may pray Zuhr and Asr on the plane, or after you land in LA before Qaza.

In the return case you must pray at least those Salats that would become Qaza if you wait until landing.

Salah (Prayers) . Air Travel

Saleem Bhimji, Shaykh Saleem Bhimji was born and raised in Canada. After completing his post-secondary education at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), he moved to Medina, New York, to study at... Answered 2 years ago

Salaam Alaykum,

You will need to do your own calculations to determine where you will be in your flight at the average time for prayers and to determine if you need to pray or not. There are Apps for iOS and Android and also a web portal at https://www.halaltrip.com/prayertimes/inflight/ which may assist you in these regards.