A traveler who intended to combine the Maghrib and 'Isha' prayers but delayed them: which one should he start with?
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The third question of the fatwa ( 17530 )
Q 3: If a traveler travels a distance that permits shortening the prayer and intends to combine the Maghrib
and 'Isha' prayers, but delays them until after midnight, should he pray 'Isha' first and then Maghrib, or should he pray them as make-up? And if he arrives in his town after the time for the second prayer has entered, having already prayed it combined with the first, is that sufficient for him or not?
A 3: The principle is that it is permissible for a traveler to combine the prayers, either by combining them early or by combining them late. The Sunnah is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he set out before the time entered, would delay the first prayer and pray it with the second, which is combining them late. And if he set out after the time had entered, he would pray the second with the first, which is combining them early. Accordingly, your praying 'Isha' with Maghrib is combining them late, which is permissible. So you should pray Maghrib first, then combine 'Isha' with it as a late combination. However, it is not permissible for a traveler to delay the two combined prayers beyond the end of the time for the second prayer. And if he arrives in his town having prayed the second with the first as an early combination, that is sufficient for him, and he is not required to repeat it; because he did what he was permitted to do, which is combining the two prayers. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q 3: If a traveler travels a distance that permits shortening the prayer and intends to combine the Maghrib
and 'Isha' prayers, but delays them until after midnight, should he pray 'Isha' first and then Maghrib, or should he pray them as make-up? And if he arrives in his town after the time for the second prayer has entered, having already prayed it combined with the first, is that sufficient for him or not?
A 3: The principle is that it is permissible for a traveler to combine the prayers, either by combining them early or by combining them late. The Sunnah is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he set out before the time entered, would delay the first prayer and pray it with the second, which is combining them late. And if he set out after the time had entered, he would pray the second with the first, which is combining them early. Accordingly, your praying 'Isha' with Maghrib is combining them late, which is permissible. So you should pray Maghrib first, then combine 'Isha' with it as a late combination. However, it is not permissible for a traveler to delay the two combined prayers beyond the end of the time for the second prayer. And if he arrives in his town having prayed the second with the first as an early combination, that is sufficient for him, and he is not required to repeat it; because he did what he was permitted to do, which is combining the two prayers. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.