What is better for a traveler: shortening the prayer or waiting until he reaches his residence to complete it, given that he arrives before the time expires?
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The questioner : What is better for a traveler who shortens his prayers and will arrive at his place of residence before the time for the Dhuhr prayer, for example, ends? Is it better for him to pray Dhuhr while traveling by shortening it, or to pray it at his place of residence by completing it? Also, what is better for a traveler who shortens his prayers and will arrive at his place of residence before the time for Asr ends: is it better for him to combine the Dhuhr and Asr prayers while traveling, or is it better for him to pray Dhuhr while traveling by shortening it and pray Asr at his place of residence?
The Shaykh : These are two issues. The first issue: if the time for prayer, Dhuhr in this case, enters for this traveler while he is traveling, but he is confident that he will reach his town before the time for Dhuhr expires, is it better for him to pray Dhuhr or is it better for him to delay it until he reaches his town? We say: if this is during intense heat, then it is better for him to delay it until he reaches his town, because it is better to delay the Dhuhr prayer during intense heat, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Abi Dawud 401Sahih (Al-Albani) meaning: the Dhuhr prayer Sunan Ibn Majah 679Sahih (Darussalam).
And if it is not during intense heat, then it is better for him to pray Dhuhr when its time enters, even if it is shortened while traveling, because offering the Dhuhr prayer early, other than during intense heat, is better. This is the answer to the first issue.
As for the second issue: if the time for Dhuhr enters for him while he is traveling, is it permissible for him to combine the Asr prayer with it, given that he is confident he will arrive in his town before the time for the Asr prayer expires? The answer to this issue is: there is no blame on him for combining the Asr prayer with the Dhuhr prayer, because the time for the Dhuhr prayer entered for him in a state where it is permissible for him to combine it with the Asr prayer. However, the better course in such a situation is not to pray Asr, because there is no need for combining here. And if there is no need for combining while traveling, then it is better not to combine.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good and do you good.
The Shaykh : These are two issues. The first issue: if the time for prayer, Dhuhr in this case, enters for this traveler while he is traveling, but he is confident that he will reach his town before the time for Dhuhr expires, is it better for him to pray Dhuhr or is it better for him to delay it until he reaches his town? We say: if this is during intense heat, then it is better for him to delay it until he reaches his town, because it is better to delay the Dhuhr prayer during intense heat, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
so when the heat is violent, offer (the Zuhr) prayer when it becomes cooler.
إذا اشتد الحر فأبردوا بالصلاةfor intense heat is from the flaring up of the Hell-fire
فإن شدة الحر من فيح جهنمAnd if it is not during intense heat, then it is better for him to pray Dhuhr when its time enters, even if it is shortened while traveling, because offering the Dhuhr prayer early, other than during intense heat, is better. This is the answer to the first issue.
As for the second issue: if the time for Dhuhr enters for him while he is traveling, is it permissible for him to combine the Asr prayer with it, given that he is confident he will arrive in his town before the time for the Asr prayer expires? The answer to this issue is: there is no blame on him for combining the Asr prayer with the Dhuhr prayer, because the time for the Dhuhr prayer entered for him in a state where it is permissible for him to combine it with the Asr prayer. However, the better course in such a situation is not to pray Asr, because there is no need for combining here. And if there is no need for combining while traveling, then it is better not to combine.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good and do you good.