Evidence for Combining Prayers in the Rain

These rains may cause hardship when performing the prayer in congregation, either during the rainfall or due to its effects, such as the abundance of puddles in the markets or the mud. When this occurs, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has made things easy for His servants and permitted them to combine the midday and afternoon prayers, and the sunset and night prayers. Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said, as narrated by Muslim in his Sahih: (The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) combined the midday and afternoon prayers, and the sunset and night prayers, in Madinah, without fear or rain) His statement: (nor rain) indicates that it was his custom to combine the midday and afternoon prayers, and the sunset and night prayers, because of rain; due to the hardship people face in attending the mosques.But the people divided into three categories regarding this: