Is it permissible for one who works at a distance of more than ninety kilometers to combine and shorten the prayers between Dhuhr and Asr?

Question:
May Allah reward you. The questioner says: We are a group of teachers working in the Hajarat Sa'd area east of Riyadh, which is more than ninety kilometers away. We commute daily, even though we have housing available, to maintain our connection with Riyadh. The question is, Honorable Shaykh, is it permissible for us to combine and shorten the prayers between Dhuhr and Asr? We arrive in Riyadh before Asr.

Answer:
Yes, it is permissible to combine and shorten the prayers while traveling, whether you are coming to Riyadh or going to work. You may combine and shorten on the road, and also at the place of work. You may combine and shorten, or you may pray with the congregation in the mosque and combine Asr with Dhuhr; there is no harm in that, because you are travelers. However, it is better that when you approach Riyadh and only a short distance remains, you pray Dhuhr on its own, delay Asr, and pray it after you have prayed with the congregation in the mosque. This is better. If you pray it and combine it with Dhuhr on the road, you have taken the dispensation, and that is permissible. Yes.