Combining the Zuhr and 'Asr prayers before traveling
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Shortening and combining prayers while traveling
Question: I am part of a group assigned an official task. This task was temporary, and the working conditions often required us to shorten and combine prayers. We have now been on this task for about a month and a half, and we are continuing in this state. We do not know how long we will remain on this task. Also, we have not been able to perform the Friday prayer during this entire period, even though the number of people required to establish the prayer is sufficient. Please inform us whether we are considered travelers during this period and whether the ruling for travelers applies to us or not. If we remain for a long time, is it permissible for us to stay in this state? Please advise us on this. May Allah reward you with the best reward.
Answer: If the performance of this task you mentioned is outside your city,
at a distance of eighty kilometers or more, and you do not know when it will end, and you have not intended to stay for more than four days, then there is no harm in shortening the four-rak'ah prayer to two rak'ahs. As for combining the two prayers, it is not recommended for you; because you are not in a state of travel, but rather in a state of stability. Therefore, combining is not recommended except for one who is actually traveling. As for the traveler who has stopped, he should pray each prayer in its time, shortened. This is the Sunnah.
As for the Friday prayer, it is not obligatory for you in the situation you described, if you do not know when your task will end and you have not intended to stay for more than four days; because you are travelers. However, if it is held near your workplace in the city, it is better that you pray with the Muslims and do not isolate yourselves, so that you may obtain the reward. If you intend to stay for more than four days, or you know that the task will not end before four days, then it is obligatory for you in this case to complete the prayer with four rak'ahs, and it is not permissible for you to combine; because the default ruling for residents is to complete the prayer, and you are residents, so you must do what is obligatory for residents. And Allah the Exalted knows best.
Question: If they were actually in this last state you mentioned, which is that they know the task will not end within four days, and yet they shortened and combined, is there anything required of them regarding the prayers that have already passed?
Answer: We said: If they know that their task will not end before four days or more, then in this case they have intended to reside, and at that time they are obligated to complete the prayer like residents. However, if it happens that they prayed and shortened, I do not see that they are required to repeat the prayer; it is valid, if Allah wills. But in the future, they should not shorten the prayer in such a situation. And Allah knows best.
Combining the Zuhr prayer with the
'Asr prayer before traveling
Question: I travel approximately every week a distance of (350) kilometers, and the time of travel is at midday. The car does not stop on the road to perform the prayer. Is it permissible for me to combine the Zuhr and 'Asr prayers as a combination of advancing (jam' taqdim) at home before I leave? Please advise us on this, and thank you.
Answer: If the time for Zuhr enters and you have not started your journey, then it is obligatory for you to pray Zuhr in its time, completely, without shortening. As for the 'Asr prayer, if your journey ends before the time for 'Asr expires, then you pray 'Asr in its time when you arrive, even if it is at the very end of the time for 'Asr.
However, if the journey continues from Zuhr until after the sun sets, such that the time for 'Asr expires while you are traveling and moving, and you cannot stop for the reason you mentioned, that the driver does not agree to stop, if the matter is as you described, then there is no harm in combining in this case; because this situation is an excuse that permits combining. But this is with completing the prayer. If you pray 'Asr as a combination of advancing, and you are in your home and intend to travel afterwards, then you pray Zuhr and 'Asr, completely, each with four rak'ahs. There is no harm in combining; because combining is permissible in such a situation. As for shortening, its time has not begun; because shortening is only permissible after leaving the building which is your place of residence.
Question: I am part of a group assigned an official task. This task was temporary, and the working conditions often required us to shorten and combine prayers. We have now been on this task for about a month and a half, and we are continuing in this state. We do not know how long we will remain on this task. Also, we have not been able to perform the Friday prayer during this entire period, even though the number of people required to establish the prayer is sufficient. Please inform us whether we are considered travelers during this period and whether the ruling for travelers applies to us or not. If we remain for a long time, is it permissible for us to stay in this state? Please advise us on this. May Allah reward you with the best reward.
Answer: If the performance of this task you mentioned is outside your city,
at a distance of eighty kilometers or more, and you do not know when it will end, and you have not intended to stay for more than four days, then there is no harm in shortening the four-rak'ah prayer to two rak'ahs. As for combining the two prayers, it is not recommended for you; because you are not in a state of travel, but rather in a state of stability. Therefore, combining is not recommended except for one who is actually traveling. As for the traveler who has stopped, he should pray each prayer in its time, shortened. This is the Sunnah.
As for the Friday prayer, it is not obligatory for you in the situation you described, if you do not know when your task will end and you have not intended to stay for more than four days; because you are travelers. However, if it is held near your workplace in the city, it is better that you pray with the Muslims and do not isolate yourselves, so that you may obtain the reward. If you intend to stay for more than four days, or you know that the task will not end before four days, then it is obligatory for you in this case to complete the prayer with four rak'ahs, and it is not permissible for you to combine; because the default ruling for residents is to complete the prayer, and you are residents, so you must do what is obligatory for residents. And Allah the Exalted knows best.
Question: If they were actually in this last state you mentioned, which is that they know the task will not end within four days, and yet they shortened and combined, is there anything required of them regarding the prayers that have already passed?
Answer: We said: If they know that their task will not end before four days or more, then in this case they have intended to reside, and at that time they are obligated to complete the prayer like residents. However, if it happens that they prayed and shortened, I do not see that they are required to repeat the prayer; it is valid, if Allah wills. But in the future, they should not shorten the prayer in such a situation. And Allah knows best.
Combining the Zuhr prayer with the
'Asr prayer before traveling
Question: I travel approximately every week a distance of (350) kilometers, and the time of travel is at midday. The car does not stop on the road to perform the prayer. Is it permissible for me to combine the Zuhr and 'Asr prayers as a combination of advancing (jam' taqdim) at home before I leave? Please advise us on this, and thank you.
Answer: If the time for Zuhr enters and you have not started your journey, then it is obligatory for you to pray Zuhr in its time, completely, without shortening. As for the 'Asr prayer, if your journey ends before the time for 'Asr expires, then you pray 'Asr in its time when you arrive, even if it is at the very end of the time for 'Asr.
However, if the journey continues from Zuhr until after the sun sets, such that the time for 'Asr expires while you are traveling and moving, and you cannot stop for the reason you mentioned, that the driver does not agree to stop, if the matter is as you described, then there is no harm in combining in this case; because this situation is an excuse that permits combining. But this is with completing the prayer. If you pray 'Asr as a combination of advancing, and you are in your home and intend to travel afterwards, then you pray Zuhr and 'Asr, completely, each with four rak'ahs. There is no harm in combining; because combining is permissible in such a situation. As for shortening, its time has not begun; because shortening is only permissible after leaving the building which is your place of residence.