Is it permissible for one who intends to travel to avail himself of the dispensations of travel before leaving the built-up area, or is it a condition for this that he leaves the boundaries of the built-up area?
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The questioner : Is it permissible for one who intends to travel to avail himself of the dispensations of travel before leaving the built-up area, or is it a condition for this that he leaves the boundaries of the built-up area?
The Shaykh : Yes. It is a condition for this that he leaves the boundaries of the built-up area. A traveler does not avail himself of the dispensations of travel unless he leaves the town, even if it is a small one. Even if there is only a short distance between him and the town's boundaries, he shortens the prayer and breaks his fast in Ramadan.
However, regarding the issue of combining prayers, if a person is going to travel on a journey where he cannot pray the prayer in its time, then he may combine before he travels. But he combines and does not shorten. This is because combining is broader than shortening. Shortening has only one cause, which is travel, whereas combining has many causes, and there is a principle that encompasses them all, which is hardship. Whenever it becomes difficult for a person to pray each prayer in its time, he may combine between Dhuhr and Asr, and between Maghrib and Isha. For this reason, it is permissible to combine due to illness, due to rain that wets the clothes, due to mud in the markets, and due to other causes where, if he did not combine, it would be difficult for him. In "Sahih Muslim" (may Allah have mercy on him), it is narrated that Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) combined between Dhuhr and Asr, and between Maghrib and Isha, in Madinah, without fear or rain." They asked: What was his intention in doing that? Why? He said: "He intended not to burden his Ummah."
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
The Shaykh : Yes. It is a condition for this that he leaves the boundaries of the built-up area. A traveler does not avail himself of the dispensations of travel unless he leaves the town, even if it is a small one. Even if there is only a short distance between him and the town's boundaries, he shortens the prayer and breaks his fast in Ramadan.
However, regarding the issue of combining prayers, if a person is going to travel on a journey where he cannot pray the prayer in its time, then he may combine before he travels. But he combines and does not shorten. This is because combining is broader than shortening. Shortening has only one cause, which is travel, whereas combining has many causes, and there is a principle that encompasses them all, which is hardship. Whenever it becomes difficult for a person to pray each prayer in its time, he may combine between Dhuhr and Asr, and between Maghrib and Isha. For this reason, it is permissible to combine due to illness, due to rain that wets the clothes, due to mud in the markets, and due to other causes where, if he did not combine, it would be difficult for him. In "Sahih Muslim" (may Allah have mercy on him), it is narrated that Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) combined between Dhuhr and Asr, and between Maghrib and Isha, in Madinah, without fear or rain." They asked: What was his intention in doing that? Why? He said: "He intended not to burden his Ummah."
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.