Is it permissible to combine the Zuhr and 'Asr prayers in the case of rain?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence, father. The questioner asks: Is the 'Asr prayer combined with the Zuhr prayer in the rain, or is combining in the rain specific to 'Isha' with Maghrib? And what is the standard for the rain in which combining is permissible?

Answer:
My brothers, do not follow the anomalous opinions. Combining the 'Asr prayer with the Zuhr prayer is an anomalous opinion, and there is no need to act upon it now, because people nowadays go to their jobs during the day and do not stay in their homes, so there is no need to combine 'Asr and Zuhr. This is unlike Maghrib and 'Isha', where people need to go to the mosque and to their homes. So if they are allowed to combine Maghrib and 'Isha', it brings them relief. Also, the darkness of the night is not like the day. The night is dark. So there is a difference between combining 'Isha' with Maghrib and combining Zuhr with 'Asr. There are many differences.
So do not take the anomalous opinions and cause confusion among the people with this matter. As for the rain for which combining is done, it is the rain that wets the clothes. The heavy rain that, if you go out, wets your clothes. This is unlike light rain and drizzle. Combining is not done for this rain because it does not wet the clothes. And prayer is a serious matter.
One should not play with it by combining the two prayers without a clear and established legal reason. Do not take risks with this prayer, for it is a great responsibility, and you are responsible for these common people for whom you combine without justification and without reason. Yes.