What is the ruling on combining the prayer for a traveler before starting the journey?

Question : The questioner is Egyptian and resides in Dammam. He has this question: What is the ruling on one who combines the prayer with the intention of traveling before he starts the journey?

Answer : If he is in his home country, it is not permissible for him to combine until he leaves the town, unless he fears that he will not be able to perform the second prayer during the journey. In that case, he may combine, because he needs to combine. As for if he is in another town, such as if he travels from al-Madinah to Makkah and he is from the people of al-Madinah, and then he wants to travel from Makkah after the Zuhr prayer, then at that time he may combine the 'Asr with the Zuhr, because he was a traveler in Makkah. That is, he combines the 'Asr with the Zuhr in Makkah because he was a traveler. Yes. May Allah bless you.