The Ruling on Combining and Shortening Prayers During a Stay

Question:
He says: I was traveling to the Eastern Region and stayed there for several days. On my way back, he says: I attended the midday prayer, so I prayed the midday and afternoon prayers together before I left the region. Is this correct?

Answer:
Your stay was long, more than four days. Is it permissible for you to combine the afternoon prayer with the midday prayer when you have not left the town and have not started traveling, having only the intention, while you are staying for more than four days? You do not combine. However, if you have traveled and left the town and you want to pray, since you have now started your journey, it is permissible for you to combine and shorten. Yes. May Allah reward you for this. If your stay is short, four days or less, or if you did not intend a specific duration of stay, there is no harm in combining; there is no harm in shortening and combining, because the rulings of travel have not ended for you. Yes.