Prayer While Flying
Question:
Someone asks about the method of praying while flying and how he could offer prayer before its time is out?
Answer:
And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. (An-Nisaa’ 4:101)
Dr. Muhammad Salah comments on the previous verse saying that shortening the prayer was a concession for the traveler. It was allowed during the Prophet’s era when Muslims were afraid to be attacked by the disbelievers while traveling. That concession was extended afterwards since `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about shortening prayers during peacetime and he said: “This is a favor from Allah Almighty to you, so accept His favor.” (An-Nasa’i)
So If one is on a plane, he is allowed to join two prayers at the time of either one. The manner of performing the obligatory prayer in the airplane is to stand facing the qiblah (direction of Prayer) and make the Takbir. If he is unable to prostrate, he should sit and indicate the prostration while sitting, and if he does not know the qiblah, and no one reliable can inform him of it, he should use his judgement and try to ascertain it, then pray according to his judgement.
To get more information about the rulings of offering prayer while flying, you can watch this short video with Dr. Muhammad Salah.
__________________________________________
Source: Huda Youtube Channel.