The Ruling on Combining and Shortening Prayers for a Resident on the Borders

The questioner:
This questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, I am a soldier under the legitimate authority in Yemen, stationed on the Saudi borders for a year and a half. I am praying the combined prayers, and I am far from the front lines. What is the ruling on this?

The Shaykh:
Do you pray alone, or with a congregation, or what?

The questioner:
He did not mention it.

The Shaykh:
It must be clarified. Yes.

The questioner:
And if he is praying alone.

The Shaykh:
It is not permissible for him to pray alone when there is a congregation of Muslims; he should pray with the Muslims. Yes.

The questioner:
And the congregation in this case: do they shorten and complete their prayers while they are residents for a long period?

The Shaykh:
No, if they are residents and they know that they will remain for a long period exceeding four days, then they do not shorten and they do not combine. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence the Shaykh