The Ruling on Combining and Shortening Prayers for One Studying Abroad

Question:
What is the stronger position, Shaykh Salih, regarding a student who has traveled to study? Does he combine and shorten his prayers for the entire duration of his scholarship?

Answer:
It is not permissible for him to shorten and combine prayers while he is residing for a long period for the sake of study. He knows that he will stay for months or years. This is a resident, not a traveler. Therefore, he rents or builds a residence for himself because he is a resident. Also, he knows that the study takes a long time. So, he is a resident for a long period, and he knows this.
Shortening and combining are only permissible for the traveler, and this person is not a traveler; he is a resident. This is the position of the majority of scholars, and the Muslim must hold fast to his religion and not follow opinions or dispensations, but rather hold fast to his religion and be cautious with his religion, and leave the anomalous opinions and dispensations that were mentioned without evidence. Yes.