The Ruling on Combining Prayers in the Middle of the Two Times and the Traveler Combining Before Departing

The questioner : Salim says: It is known that the traveler’s combining of prayers is either combining by advancing or combining by delaying. My question here is: What is the ruling on combining in the middle of the two times? And is it permissible for one who intends to travel to combine by advancing in his own land, as that is easier for him, especially for women?

The Shaykh : I say that combining does not mean that the two prayers are between the two times. Combining means joining; you join one of the prayers to the other. If the combining is advancing, you join the second to the first; if it is delaying, you join the first to the second. Whether it is at the beginning of the first prayer’s time, at the end of the second prayer’s time, or in the middle, it is all the same. But do what is easier for you. If advancing is easier, advance; if delaying is easier, delay. As for the traveler combining before leaving his land, it is not permissible unless he fears hardship, such as if his journey is by plane and he fears that delaying the 'Asr prayer will be difficult for him, or a woman, as mentioned in the question, finds it difficult to perform wudu' while traveling. In that case, she may combine by advancing.