Does the one who travels from al-Khabar to Bahrain shorten and combine the prayer?

Question : Shaykh Muhammad, this is a questioner from al-Khabar. She says: As for those who live in al-Khabar and go, for example, to Bahrain, is there shortening and combining of the prayer for such people on days like these, whether they stay overnight there or not?

Answer : Yes, they may shorten the prayer and combine it. However, as for the men, it is obligatory for them to pray with the congregation, because the traveler is not exempt from the congregational prayer or the Friday prayer if he is in a town where the congregation and the Friday prayer are held. They must go to the Friday prayer and go to the congregation. As for the women, it is well known that they are not among those who attend the congregation, so they may combine and they may shorten. However, leaving off the combining is better. That is fine.