What is the evidence for combining the prayers for a traveler who is not in motion?
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The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you. What is the evidence for combining the prayers when not traveling, and not on a road? I mean, you combined the prayers while you were not in motion?
The Shaykh : Ah, you are referring to the position of Imam Ibn al-Qayyim.
The questioner : What is the evidence?
The Shaykh : The evidence is the hadith of Mu'adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him), which Imam Malik narrated in his *Muwatta* and Abu Dawud in his *Sunan*:: This is clear evidence that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to combine the two prayers while he was stationary and not in earnest motion.
And what came in the hadith of Ibn 'Umar in the two Sahihs (may Allah be pleased with them both): This is not the same as if it said: "He did not combine except when his motion was earnest." It affirms a combining that the Messenger (peace be upon him) performed, and it does not negate in this report what another report affirmed. Therefore, it is permissible for the traveler to combine, whether he is in motion or stationary, as long as he remains under the ruling of a traveler.
Just as it is permissible for him to shorten the prayer, and shortening is more important than combining. And we mentioned to you earlier::
So the traveler is more deserving of such combining, even if he is stationary.
Add to that what the scholars of the Muslims unanimously agreed upon, even those who say that combining is not permissible in travel, even if one is in earnest motion, such as the Hanafis. They agreed with the majority on the permissibility of combining at 'Arafah and at Muzdalifah. This is combining while stationary. So since its like has been established in the hadith of Mu'adh ibn Jabal, that is a dispensation from Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Bulugh al-Maram 2:341 And in the other narration: Bulugh al-Maram 2:341 And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
The Shaykh : Ah, you are referring to the position of Imam Ibn al-Qayyim.
The questioner : What is the evidence?
The Shaykh : The evidence is the hadith of Mu'adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him), which Imam Malik narrated in his *Muwatta* and Abu Dawud in his *Sunan*:
That the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was stationary during the expedition of Tabuk. When the call was made for the midday prayer, he went out and prayed the midday prayer and the afternoon prayer, then he went in. When the call was made for the sunset prayer, he went out and prayed the sunset prayer and the night prayer.
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم كان نازلًا في غزوة تبوك، لما أُذن لصلاة الظهر فخرج وصلى الظهر وصلى العصر ثم دخل، فلما أُذن لصلاة المغرب خرج فصلى المغرب وصلى العشاءAnd what came in the hadith of Ibn 'Umar in the two Sahihs (may Allah be pleased with them both):
That the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to combine when his motion was earnest.
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم كان إذا جَدَّ به السير جمعJust as it is permissible for him to shorten the prayer, and shortening is more important than combining. And we mentioned to you earlier:
That the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) combined in Madinah—as Ibn 'Abbas said—between the midday and afternoon prayers, and between the sunset and night prayers, without travel or rain. They said: What did he intend by that, O Abu al-'Abbas? He said: He intended not to burden his Ummah.
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم جمع في المدينة -كما قال ابن عباس- بين الظهر والعصر وبين المغرب والعشاء بغير سفر ولا مطر، قالوا: ماذا أراد بذلك يا أبا العباس؟ قال: أراد ألا يُحرج أمتهSo the traveler is more deserving of such combining, even if he is stationary.
Add to that what the scholars of the Muslims unanimously agreed upon, even those who say that combining is not permissible in travel, even if one is in earnest motion, such as the Hanafis. They agreed with the majority on the permissibility of combining at 'Arafah and at Muzdalifah. This is combining while stationary. So since its like has been established in the hadith of Mu'adh ibn Jabal, that is a dispensation from Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: