If a traveler stays in some areas for a day or two, is it permissible for him to combine prayers, or must he pray each prayer with the congregation at its proper time?
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The questioner : If a person is a traveler and may pass through more than one country during his journey, staying in some for a day or half a day, is it permissible for him to combine prayers in this case?
The Shaykh : If a person is in a country and is a traveler, it is obligatory for him to pray in the mosque with the Muslims. In that case, he will complete the prayer and not combine. However, if he misses the prayer in this situation, he shortens it. Likewise, if he intends to continue his journey before the time for the second prayer arrives, he combines it with the first and travels.
The questioner : But he is in the status of a traveler because he does not intend to reside in this country.
The Shaykh : Yes, the traveler is not exempt from the congregational prayer.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : For this reason, Allah made the congregation obligatory in the state of fear, and the general rule is that fear occurs during travel.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So the congregational prayer is obligatory for the traveler and for the resident.
The questioner : Combining is not permissible.
The Shaykh : Combining is permissible for the traveler as well.
The questioner : Not for the resident for half a day or a day.
The Shaykh : So that it is permissible for him to combine, but he...
The questioner : ...combines? Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, because it is permissible for the traveler to combine, but combining is better for him if he is in a hurry to travel, and not combining is better for him if he is staying, whether he is staying in a town, at a station, in the wilderness until he cools off, or the like.
The questioner : Yes, because the purpose of combining, or of the dispensation of combining, is, as I believe, to save time, meaning for travel.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : The one who is earnest in his journey, and since he is staying for a day or half a day, what is the reason for combining then?
The Shaykh : Yes, the conclusion is this.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : That what is prescribed for the traveler is shortening absolutely, whereas combining is prescribed for him if he is in a hurry to travel.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Meaning, if he is walking, and if he is not in a hurry to travel, then the better option for him is not to combine, but if he combines, there is no harm in it, because travel is one of the causes that make combining permissible, even if he is not in a hurry to travel.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is regarding the general ruling. As for a traveler who stays in a town and intends to stay, then depart after a day or two or the like, he prays with the imam in the mosques.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And if he prays with the imam in the mosque, he will complete the prayer, because whoever prays behind one who completes must complete, and he does not combine. But if he misses the prayer, he shortens the prayer because he is in the status of a traveler. Likewise, if he intends to walk before the time for the second prayer from this town arrives, he also combines, combining the second with the first.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. His last question says.
The Shaykh : If a person is in a country and is a traveler, it is obligatory for him to pray in the mosque with the Muslims. In that case, he will complete the prayer and not combine. However, if he misses the prayer in this situation, he shortens it. Likewise, if he intends to continue his journey before the time for the second prayer arrives, he combines it with the first and travels.
The questioner : But he is in the status of a traveler because he does not intend to reside in this country.
The Shaykh : Yes, the traveler is not exempt from the congregational prayer.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : For this reason, Allah made the congregation obligatory in the state of fear, and the general rule is that fear occurs during travel.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So the congregational prayer is obligatory for the traveler and for the resident.
The questioner : Combining is not permissible.
The Shaykh : Combining is permissible for the traveler as well.
The questioner : Not for the resident for half a day or a day.
The Shaykh : So that it is permissible for him to combine, but he...
The questioner : ...combines? Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, because it is permissible for the traveler to combine, but combining is better for him if he is in a hurry to travel, and not combining is better for him if he is staying, whether he is staying in a town, at a station, in the wilderness until he cools off, or the like.
The questioner : Yes, because the purpose of combining, or of the dispensation of combining, is, as I believe, to save time, meaning for travel.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : The one who is earnest in his journey, and since he is staying for a day or half a day, what is the reason for combining then?
The Shaykh : Yes, the conclusion is this.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : That what is prescribed for the traveler is shortening absolutely, whereas combining is prescribed for him if he is in a hurry to travel.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Meaning, if he is walking, and if he is not in a hurry to travel, then the better option for him is not to combine, but if he combines, there is no harm in it, because travel is one of the causes that make combining permissible, even if he is not in a hurry to travel.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is regarding the general ruling. As for a traveler who stays in a town and intends to stay, then depart after a day or two or the like, he prays with the imam in the mosques.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And if he prays with the imam in the mosque, he will complete the prayer, because whoever prays behind one who completes must complete, and he does not combine. But if he misses the prayer, he shortens the prayer because he is in the status of a traveler. Likewise, if he intends to walk before the time for the second prayer from this town arrives, he also combines, combining the second with the first.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. His last question says.