Combining the two prayers in the rain.

The Shaykh : It is well known that rain brings about some hardship. Walking in the rain wets the clothes and tires the walker. In the days of winter, one may catch a cold, and the ground may become muddy, meaning muddy, causing feet to slip. Out of Allah’s mercy, He permitted His servants to combine prayers on days of mud and on rainy days that are difficult for people. He permitted combining Zuhr with 'Asr, or Maghrib with 'Isha', based on the statement of 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father): This means that they should not be subjected to hardship and difficulty. This points to the 'illah (operative cause) for the permissibility of combining, which is what? It is hardship. So whenever a person experiences hardship in performing each prayer individually in its time, he may combine, whether due to rain, or cold wind on a cold night, or illness, or fear of losing his wealth, or fear of its destruction. The scholars even said: "If a baker fears that his bread will burn, it is permissible for him to combine" because the matter, praise be to Allah, is broad. However, it is not permissible to be lax in combining; one should not combine without a cause. Some people, as soon as it rains, say, "This is rain, so we will combine." This is a great error, because combining without its cause is forbidden, and the combined prayer is not accepted, whether it is combined with the one before it or the one after it. For example, if a person combines 'Isha' with Maghrib without a cause, Maghrib is valid, but the prayer of 'Isha' is not valid, because it was performed before its time in a state where combining is not permissible. Allah the Blessed and Exalted said in the Noble Book: They are limited: defined by a specific time. Fajr is from such a time to such a time, Zuhr is from such a time to such a time, 'Asr is from such a time to such a time, Maghrib is from such a time to such a time, and 'Isha' is from such a time to such a time. It is defined. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) specified those times. So whoever prays a prayer outside its time without a valid legal proof is sinful, and the prayer performed outside its time is invalid. If a person combines merely because of rain that involves no hardship, and the ground is not muddy and there are no puddles of water, then his prayer of 'Isha' is not valid, and he must repeat it. If a person is unsure whether this rain permits combining or not, what is obligatory? It is obligatory to refrain from combining, because the original ruling is the obligation to perform the prayer in its time. It is not permissible to deviate from this original ruling except with a legal proof. So if a person is unsure and says, "I do not know if this rain permits me to combine or not," we say: Do not combine, until you are certain that this rain permits combining, or until it is the preponderant opinion of yours. If it is the preponderant opinion, that is sufficient. If someone asks: What if they prayed Maghrib and there was no rain, and then it rained after the people had dispersed? We say: If it is difficult for them to attend 'Isha', let each one pray in his home, and there is no blame on him. But in this case, if a person is with men, let them pray in congregation in the home, based on the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): The matter, praise be to Allah, is broad, but the excuse that permits combining must be verified. Otherwise, a person would proceed to do something that is not lawful for him.