A traveler who stays in one place for more than a day: is it prescribed for him to combine the two prayers or not?
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The questioner : Another questioner asks: What is the ruling on combining prayers while staying in a place? That is, a man is a traveler but he is staying in a certain location, and he will remain in this place for more than a day. Is it prescribed for him to combine or not?
The Shaykh : This issue is one in which the scholars have differed. Some scholars said: Combining prayers during travel is not permissible except for one who is hastening his journey. If he travels before the time of the first prayer enters, he delays it until the second; and if he travels after the time of the first prayer has entered, he brings forward the second. This is as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do: if he set out before the sun declined, he would delay the midday prayer until the afternoon, and if the sun had declined, he would bring forward the afternoon prayer with the midday. This is if he was hastening his journey. As for the one who is staying, he does not combine. They cited as evidence the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) who said: And that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) did not combine while staying in Mina during the days of Hajj, but rather he used to pray every prayer in its time, because he was staying. This is the choice of Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him). And some scholars said: "The traveler may combine even if he is staying and remaining in his place, because travel is an excuse". These people cited as evidence that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) combined at Tabuk while staying, and that Abu Juhayfah mentioned that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) , and this indicates that he combined while staying. However, despite this, we do not recommend for the traveling person who is staying to combine unless there is a reason, such as: the water being scarce, and he is unable to perform ablution twice; or the weather being cold, and he is unable to perform ablution twice except with hardship; or he is tired and sleeps, and combines in order to lengthen his sleep, or something similar. Otherwise, it is better not to combine. This is if he is in the desert. As for if he is in the city, it is obligatory for the traveler to pray with the congregation, and in that case, he must complete the prayer, and he must pray every prayer in its time.
The questioner : Is shortening permissible?
The Shaykh : Shortening is permissible as long as you are a traveler, even if you are staying. That is, it is not like combining. And here we point out: Combining is broader than shortening in one aspect, and shortening is broader than combining in one aspect. For example: Combining is permissible for every excuse that makes it difficult to leave combining, even in the city, even in illness. From this aspect, it is broader than shortening. Shortening is not permissible except in travel specifically, whether you are staying or traveling, but in other than travel, it is not permissible. So if a questioner asked me: A sick person in the hospital combines and shortens because it is difficult for him to pray every prayer in its time. Is his combining valid? Answer, everyone? Valid. Is his shortening valid? The answer is: Wrong. Is his shortening valid? The answer is: Wrong. Is his shortening valid? The third time, say yes so that we can say wrong. The detail is necessary. If he is in his city, what is it? He does not shorten. And if he is in other than his city, he shortens.
The Shaykh : This issue is one in which the scholars have differed. Some scholars said: Combining prayers during travel is not permissible except for one who is hastening his journey. If he travels before the time of the first prayer enters, he delays it until the second; and if he travels after the time of the first prayer has entered, he brings forward the second. This is as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do: if he set out before the sun declined, he would delay the midday prayer until the afternoon, and if the sun had declined, he would bring forward the afternoon prayer with the midday. This is if he was hastening his journey. As for the one who is staying, he does not combine. They cited as evidence the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) who said:
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to combine when he hastened his journey.
كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يجمع إذا جدَّ به السيرHe was staying in al-Abtah in Makkah in the year of the Farewell Pilgrimage, and that he (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him) came out of a red tent of leather. He said: And it was as if I was looking at the whiteness of his calves. So I planted a spear for him, then he advanced and prayed the midday prayer two rak'ahs and the afternoon prayer two rak'ahs.
كان نازلاً في الأبطح في مكة في عام حجة الوداع، وأنه خرج صلوات الله وسلامه عليه من قبة حمراء من أدم قال : وكأني أنظر إلى بياض ساقيه، فركزت له عنزة، ثم تقدم فصلى الظهر ركعتين والعصر ركعتينThe questioner : Is shortening permissible?
The Shaykh : Shortening is permissible as long as you are a traveler, even if you are staying. That is, it is not like combining. And here we point out: Combining is broader than shortening in one aspect, and shortening is broader than combining in one aspect. For example: Combining is permissible for every excuse that makes it difficult to leave combining, even in the city, even in illness. From this aspect, it is broader than shortening. Shortening is not permissible except in travel specifically, whether you are staying or traveling, but in other than travel, it is not permissible. So if a questioner asked me: A sick person in the hospital combines and shortens because it is difficult for him to pray every prayer in its time. Is his combining valid? Answer, everyone? Valid. Is his shortening valid? The answer is: Wrong. Is his shortening valid? The answer is: Wrong. Is his shortening valid? The third time, say yes so that we can say wrong. The detail is necessary. If he is in his city, what is it? He does not shorten. And if he is in other than his city, he shortens.