and offers them both as a delayed combination. But if the prayer cannot be combined with the one after it, he prays on the aircraft according to his circumstances.

However, if we assume that the aircraft has a spacious area large enough for a person to pray standing, bowing, prostrating, and facing the qiblah, is it permissible for him to offer the prayer before the aircraft lands at the airport?

The answer is: yes, it is permissible. Some people have thought that this is not permissible, saying: “The jurists stated that prayer on a swing is invalid because it is unstable. The evidence of its instability is that, if you prostrate, it tilts to your side, and when you stand, it inclines to the other side.” They say: “An aircraft is like this, so prayer on it is invalid, even if a person is able to bow, prostrate, stand, sit, and face the qiblah.”

But this is incorrect, because the difference between a swing and an aircraft is very clear. An aircraft is entirely stable: a person eats, drinks, and sleeps in it without moving, so long as there is no turbulence. Therefore, we hold that prayer on an aircraft is valid in all circumstances, even when there is ample time remaining. However, one must perform the obligatory elements: facing the qiblah, prostrating, standing, and sitting.

Means of transport fall into four categories:

1. Cars.
2. Animals.
3. Aircraft.
4. Ships.

In al-Rawd, he cited the statement of Ya'la ibn Murrah: that they were with