The Ruling on Shortening and Combining Prayers Upon Arriving at the Destination

Question:
This is also the second question from the sister. She says: We traveled on Friday after the 'Asr prayer to Dammam, and we did not arrive there until after the 'Isha' prayer. So we shortened and combined the two prayers, Maghrib and 'Isha', at the same time at approximately ten o'clock. What is the ruling on what we did?

Answer:
If Dammam is your country where you reside, then you have no right to shorten or combine if you have arrived there. You must complete every prayer in its time. However, if Dammam is not your country of permanent residence, but rather you intend to stay there for a short period of four days or less, then you may shorten and you may combine, because you are still travelers. But if you hear the adhan around you in the mosques, it is not permissible for you to pray in the houses on the pretext that you are shortening and combining. Rather, it is obligatory for you to pray with the congregation and attend the mosque, as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is something that many people overlook.
Their excuse is that they are travelers and they hear the adhan and the mosque is nearby, yet they do not attend. These people have abandoned an obligation, which is responding to the mu'adhdhin and attending the congregational prayer.

The presenter:
Yes, may Allah bless you.