The Ruling on Combining Prayers for Those on Guard Duty

The questioner:
Yes, your second question, Khalid. My second question, may Allah reward you with good. I am one of the guards on the southern border, and a fatwa came to us about a year ago now regarding combining the prayers. We combine the five prayers, and it has been a year since we have been combining them. Is it permissible for us to combine the prayers or not?

The Shaykh:
What is the reason for combining, my brother?

The questioner:
Khalid.

The Shaykh:
Yes.

The questioner:
Yes, yes.

The presenter:
He says: What is the reason for combining?

The questioner:
We are guards on the border. The religious affairs department of the agency we belong to told us: Combine the prayers if you are on the southern border, and keep combining until the war ends.

The Shaykh:
No, my brother, it is not permissible for you to combine. But you should divide into two groups: one group prays and the other group stays on guard. Then, when you have prayed, those on guard come and pray. My brother, listen, may Allah guide you. I say it is not permissible for you to combine.

The presenter:
Do you hear me, Khalid?

The questioner:
No, I do not hear you, Shaykh.

The presenter:
Okay, focus. Go ahead, Shaykh.

The Shaykh:
Let him ask. What do we do with someone who says he does not hear?

The presenter:
He asked about combining, Shaykh. Okay.

The Shaykh:
Regarding combining, we said it is not permissible for them, but they should take turns on guard duty.

The presenter:
Well, may Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh:
The congregation stays on guard. When they have prayed, they go to guard duty, and those on guard come and pray. They take turns in this manner, and they do not combine.

The presenter:
Thank you, brother Khalid.