If the food hasn’t been presented but he thinks it will be presented shortly, and his soul desires it, what should he do? Should he pray or wait for the food?

Ash Shaykh Zayid Al Wusaabee said:

What is correct is that if the food hasn’t been presented, then the prayer shouldn’t be delayed, and that is because the narration of Aisha رضي الله عنها which the author [of Umdatul Ahkaam] mentioned the first and the second one, [and] similarly [the narration] from Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما, and it has come from the narration of Anas رضي الله عنه. In it is the the textual evidence that the ruling applies to when the food is presented.

Ash Shaykh Al Uthaymeen said:

If the food hasn’t been presented but he is hungry, then he shouldn’t delay the prayer. If we were to say this (that he delays the prayer), then it would necessitate that the poor one never pray, because the poor one may always be in a state of hunger, and his souls desires food.

Miskul Khitaam Sharh Umdatul Ahkaam 1/303

Translated by

Majid Jawed Al-Afghanee
Abu Layl