Conditions for Combining the Midday and Afternoon Prayers Due to Rain
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The questioner:
May Allah reward you with good and do you well. Shaykh Salih, the issue of combining the midday and afternoon prayers is a matter in which even some of the mosque imams have erred, permitting the combination of the midday and afternoon prayers even when the rain is light. Do you have a word to say? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
Yes, this has occurred among some of the ignorant and some of those who rush in matters. The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta has issued a warning regarding this, cautioning against combining the two prayers without a valid excuse. Light rain is not considered an excuse, nor is slight mud that does not cause discomfort to passersby. Combining the sunset and night prayers is only permitted when the rain wets the clothes and causes hardship for those going from their homes to the mosques, or when there is mud that prevents them from reaching the mosque, soiling their feet and clothes due to the rain. As for combining prayers due to light rain that causes no harm, or without mud that prevents one from reaching the mosque, this combination is invalid. It is taking the prayer out of its time without an excuse. Since this is the case, the night prayer they prayed with the sunset prayer is invalid, and they are required to repeat it. Yes.
The presenter:
The night prayer, or the midday prayer with the afternoon prayer, may Allah preserve you.
The Shaykh:
The midday prayer with the afternoon prayer is not combined due to rain according to the opinion of the majority of scholars. The discussion is about combining the sunset and night prayers.
The presenter:
If the focus is on combining the midday and afternoon prayers, which is what drew people's attention because some imams did it, combining the midday and afternoon prayers, while people are able to go out and come back, and even carry out their work.
The Shaykh:
This is a serious error. The majority of scholars did not say that combining the midday and afternoon prayers due to rain is permissible. Only a small group said so, and there is no clear evidence from the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for it. The default is that prayers are performed in their times and are not taken out of their times for the sake of combining except with a correct, clear evidence. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good. What should the congregation of the mosque do if their imam combines the midday and afternoon prayers for them during light rain, or during rain in which normal life activities can be carried out?
The Shaykh:
Combining prayers is originally permissible; it is not obligatory nor a recommended practice, but it is permissible for the traveler. If some of the people of the mosque, or the people of the mosque do not see a valid excuse justifying the combination, they should refrain from praying with this imam.
The presenter:
If Allah wills.
May Allah reward you with good and do you well. Shaykh Salih, the issue of combining the midday and afternoon prayers is a matter in which even some of the mosque imams have erred, permitting the combination of the midday and afternoon prayers even when the rain is light. Do you have a word to say? May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh:
Yes, this has occurred among some of the ignorant and some of those who rush in matters. The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta has issued a warning regarding this, cautioning against combining the two prayers without a valid excuse. Light rain is not considered an excuse, nor is slight mud that does not cause discomfort to passersby. Combining the sunset and night prayers is only permitted when the rain wets the clothes and causes hardship for those going from their homes to the mosques, or when there is mud that prevents them from reaching the mosque, soiling their feet and clothes due to the rain. As for combining prayers due to light rain that causes no harm, or without mud that prevents one from reaching the mosque, this combination is invalid. It is taking the prayer out of its time without an excuse. Since this is the case, the night prayer they prayed with the sunset prayer is invalid, and they are required to repeat it. Yes.
The presenter:
The night prayer, or the midday prayer with the afternoon prayer, may Allah preserve you.
The Shaykh:
The midday prayer with the afternoon prayer is not combined due to rain according to the opinion of the majority of scholars. The discussion is about combining the sunset and night prayers.
The presenter:
If the focus is on combining the midday and afternoon prayers, which is what drew people's attention because some imams did it, combining the midday and afternoon prayers, while people are able to go out and come back, and even carry out their work.
The Shaykh:
This is a serious error. The majority of scholars did not say that combining the midday and afternoon prayers due to rain is permissible. Only a small group said so, and there is no clear evidence from the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) for it. The default is that prayers are performed in their times and are not taken out of their times for the sake of combining except with a correct, clear evidence. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good. What should the congregation of the mosque do if their imam combines the midday and afternoon prayers for them during light rain, or during rain in which normal life activities can be carried out?
The Shaykh:
Combining prayers is originally permissible; it is not obligatory nor a recommended practice, but it is permissible for the traveler. If some of the people of the mosque, or the people of the mosque do not see a valid excuse justifying the combination, they should refrain from praying with this imam.
The presenter:
If Allah wills.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 4432- شروط الجمع بين الظهر والعصر للمطر - الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.