Prayer on an aeroplane

Question

I have already performed the obligatory (fard) Hajj, and in future I intend to perform 'umra or a voluntary (nafl) Hajj. From our place, Africa, no ship sails to Jeddah, so one has to travel by aeroplane. Now the difficulty is that during the flight two or three prayers fall due on the aeroplane, and the opinion of the respected 'ulama is that prayer on an aeroplane is not valid, because [being on] the ground is a condition for performing prayer; so the prayers will inevitably become qada'.

Answer

Perform the prayers on the aeroplane and do not leave them as qada'; then, having come down to the ground, repeat them (i'ada). In this way the opinion of those 'ulama who do not consider prayer on an aeroplane permissible will also be respected.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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