Permissibility of Combining and Shortening Prayers While Traveling
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A group of people were going out to Mada'in Saleh to draw a lesson and take heed. They combined the Zuhr and 'Asr prayers by delaying them, and they performed them shortened in Mada'in Saleh. What is the ruling on their prayer?The Shaykh: Are they travelers or residents of the town?The questioner: They are from outside the town, from a place a little far from the town.
It is permissible for a traveler to shorten and combine his prayers until he returns to his town, whether he went out for a leisure trip, or went out for worship, such as performing 'Umrah or Hajj, or went out for knowledge, or went out for trade. The important thing is that as long as he is a traveler;Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has said: [Al-Nisa: 101] And Allah did not specify one type over another; rather, He made it general and comprehensive.
And you mentioned in your question that these people went to Mada'in Saleh to draw a lesson and take heed.And drawing a lesson and taking heed are of two types: The first type: drawing a lesson and taking heed from the strength and power of these people, who used to carve houses out of the mountains. This is not permissible because it leads to glorifying them and hardening the heart.
And the second type: Drawing a lesson and taking heed from Allah's taking of them and His punishment of them, and that despite their greatness, they did not harm Allah in any way, nor were they able to defeat Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). There is nothing wrong with this.
And with that, I inform you and inform whoever is listening and learning that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Do not enter upon these punished people unless you are weeping, lest what befell them befall you) .
So whoever goes and enters while weeping out of fear of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), let him do so. Otherwise, he should not enter, but rather stay away. For this reason, when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by their dwellings on his way to Tabuk or on his return from it, he covered his head, lowered it, and hastened his journey (peace and blessings be upon him). So what about the one who goes and stops in their courtyard? Even if it is for religious reflection, we do not advise him to do so. If he is reflecting in a religious manner, let him read the Qur'an. The believer's faith in what is in the Qur'an is greater than his faith in what he sees, and although seeing it is undoubtedly an increase in faith;But in any case, we say: Whoever goes to these people in the manner the Messenger stipulated: (Do not enter upon these punished people unless you are weeping, lest what befell them befall you) .
The questioner: But they performed the prayer shortened and combined! The Shaykh: Yes, their prayer is valid because they are travelers.
It is permissible for a traveler to shorten and combine his prayers until he returns to his town, whether he went out for a leisure trip, or went out for worship, such as performing 'Umrah or Hajj, or went out for knowledge, or went out for trade. The important thing is that as long as he is a traveler;Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has said:
And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer
وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَقْصُرُوا مِنَ الصَّلاةِAnd you mentioned in your question that these people went to Mada'in Saleh to draw a lesson and take heed.And drawing a lesson and taking heed are of two types: The first type: drawing a lesson and taking heed from the strength and power of these people, who used to carve houses out of the mountains. This is not permissible because it leads to glorifying them and hardening the heart.
And the second type: Drawing a lesson and taking heed from Allah's taking of them and His punishment of them, and that despite their greatness, they did not harm Allah in any way, nor were they able to defeat Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). There is nothing wrong with this.
And with that, I inform you and inform whoever is listening and learning that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (Do not enter upon these punished people unless you are weeping, lest what befell them befall you) .
So whoever goes and enters while weeping out of fear of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), let him do so. Otherwise, he should not enter, but rather stay away. For this reason, when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by their dwellings on his way to Tabuk or on his return from it, he covered his head, lowered it, and hastened his journey (peace and blessings be upon him). So what about the one who goes and stops in their courtyard? Even if it is for religious reflection, we do not advise him to do so. If he is reflecting in a religious manner, let him read the Qur'an. The believer's faith in what is in the Qur'an is greater than his faith in what he sees, and although seeing it is undoubtedly an increase in faith;But in any case, we say: Whoever goes to these people in the manner the Messenger stipulated: (Do not enter upon these punished people unless you are weeping, lest what befell them befall you) .
The questioner: But they performed the prayer shortened and combined! The Shaykh: Yes, their prayer is valid because they are travelers.