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Fatwa CenterPerforming prayer while driving a car
Question
I have question related with Salah. While driving can I make Niyyah and make Salah in mind? The reason I asked based on some explanation from one of the Imaam longtime ago I used to follow this way praying. But after discussing with my colleagues I realize that I should have validated this. Can you please help me to understand whether I can make Salah while I am driving? If yes why is the Ijthihad, If not what is the reason?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
If a person is on a conveyance, a car or else, and then the time of the obligatory prayer is due, if he can get off so that he may perform the prayer at its prescribed fixed time on the ground, then it is an obligation on him to do so. Ibn 'Umar 
said: "The Prophet 
used to glorify Allaah while he is riding his camel in whichever direction, and he used to perform Witr prayer on it. However, but he did not perform an obligatory prayer whilst riding it.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] An-Nawawi
said: 'This is evidence that it is not permissible for a person to perform the obligatory prayer towards a direction other than the Qiblah, and it is not permissible for him to do so while on his conveyance, and there is a consensus among the scholars
on this issue, unless one is in extreme fear." Nonetheless, if it happens that a person is obliged to perform his prayer on his conveyance because of fear and the like, then he is obliged to perform it according to his ability and may not abandon the prayer. Some scholars are of the view that if he does pray whilst on his conveyance, he is obliged to make it up on the grounds that it is a rare excuse. However, the most preponderant opinion is that he is not obliged to make it up, because one is only required to perform the religious obligation once. Anyway, if one makes it up, then this is better in order to be on the safe side.
As regards the supererogatory prayer, it is known from the previous narration that it is permissible to offer it on one's conveyance when traveling, and therefore, it is not a condition to turn towards the Qiblah.
Finally, the two following matters should be mentioned:
1- A Muslim should seek religious rulings from pious and knowledgeable scholars in matters he does not know.
2- You are obliged to make up those prayers you performed without a sound reason while driving your car, if they were obligatory prayers, and it is better to make them up in any case.
Allaah Knows best.
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