Ruling on Combining Prayers Without an Excuse
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Q509: The questioner asks: Is it permissible to combine prayers without an excuse, and what is the authenticity of the hadith stating that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) combined prayers without fear or travel? Please inform us about this, may Allah reward you?
A509: Combining prayers without an excuse is not permissible, and the prayer is not valid in this case; because he prayed it outside its time without a valid legal excuse. And Allah the Exalted says:[An-Nisa 4:103], and combining is only permissible with a valid legal excuse, such as illness and travel, and likewise between the two night prayers in the rain, mud, and severe cold. These are the excuses that permit combining the two prayers. As for combining without an excuse, this is not permissible and his prayer is not valid if he does so. The combined prayer outside its proper place, and the prayer outside its time, is not valid; because he took it out of its time without a valid legal justification.
As for the hadith, its wording came in two narrations from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)Sunan Abi Dawud 1211Sahih (Al-Albani). The narration mentioned by the questioner, whose wording is that he combined without fear or illness, is not authentic. This is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and illness was not mentioned in the hadith. Rather, it was reported: without fear or travel. And in a narration: Sunan Abi Dawud 1211Sahih (Al-Albani) The scholars have several answers regarding this hadith. Some hesitated about its meaning and said: its meaning is not apparent to me. And some of the scholars interpreted its meaning as apparent combining, which Al-Shawkani supported in "Nail al-Awtar". Apparent combining is: delaying the prayer to the end of its time, and advancing the second prayer to the beginning of its time, then praying them together, this one at the end of its time and this one at the beginning of its time. This is apparent combining, but every prayer he prayed in its time is not true combining, but rather apparent combining.
For example, he delayed Maghrib to the end of its time, and advanced 'Isha to the beginning of its time, and prayed them together. And likewise, for example, he delayed Zuhr to the end of its time, and prayed 'Asr at the beginning of its time. This is called apparent combining, not true combining. And this is a correct meaning, and Al-Shawkani supported it, and others supported it in the meaning of the hadith, that what is intended is apparent combining. And some of the scholars interpreted the hadith, which is his saying:Sunan an-Nasa'i 601Sahih (Darussalam), or Sunan Abi Dawud 1211Sahih (Al-Albani), to mean that he combined due to illness; because the excuses that permit combining are either fear, or rain, or travel, or illness. The excuses are four: either fear, or illness, or travel, or rain. And since it was mentioned that it was without fear or travel, and without fear or rain, only illness remains. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) combined due to illness. It is permissible for the sick person to combine if his illness causes him hardship.
A509: Combining prayers without an excuse is not permissible, and the prayer is not valid in this case; because he prayed it outside its time without a valid legal excuse. And Allah the Exalted says:
Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
إِنَّ الصَّلاَةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَوْقُوتًاAs for the hadith, its wording came in two narrations from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) combined the noon and afternoon prayers, and the sunset and night prayers at Medina without any danger and rain.
جمع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بين الظهر والعصر والمغرب والعشاء بالمدينة، من غير خوف ولا سفرwithout any danger and rain
من غير خوف ولا مطرFor example, he delayed Maghrib to the end of its time, and advanced 'Isha to the beginning of its time, and prayed them together. And likewise, for example, he delayed Zuhr to the end of its time, and prayed 'Asr at the beginning of its time. This is called apparent combining, not true combining. And this is a correct meaning, and Al-Shawkani supported it, and others supported it in the meaning of the hadith, that what is intended is apparent combining. And some of the scholars interpreted the hadith, which is his saying:
when there was no fear and he was not traveling
من غير خوف ولا سفرwithout any danger and rain
من غير خوف ولا مطر
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.