Last week, on the program "Nur 'ala al-Darb," a question was posed to you regarding combining and shortening prayers while traveling.
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The questioner : Last week, on the program "Nur 'ala al-Darb", a question was posed to you regarding combining and shortening prayers while traveling. One of the brothers understood that you issued a ruling that it is permissible to combine the Dhuhr and 'Asr prayers while traveling, even if the person is not in transit, meaning: even if he has arrived at the city he was traveling to. May Allah reward you and your knowledge, and may Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : This is correct. Traveling permits shortening the prayer. In fact, shortening is a recommended practice (sunnah) in it. It also permits combining prayers, whether the person is staying or in transit. However, if he is in transit, combining is a recommended practice (sunnah) and better than not combining. If he is staying, combining is permissible but not a recommended practice (sunnah). The best course is not to combine, except out of need. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) during the expedition to Tabuk would combine the Dhuhr and 'Asr prayers. And during the Farewell Pilgrimage, he was staying in al-Abtah in the southern part of Makkah. Abu Juhayfah, the Companion (may Allah be pleased with him), mentioned that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went out one day wearing a red robe. I planted the peg for his camel (a stick) for him, and he prayed Dhuhr in two rak'ahs and 'Asr in two rak'ahs. This was combining in a place of residence, at the end of the last journey the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made. So understand this. What is the ruling on shortening while traveling? It is a recommended practice (sunnah) absolutely. Combining while traveling is a recommended practice (sunnah) for one who is in transit, and permissible for one who is staying. But let the men know that if they are in a city where the congregational prayer is established and it is not difficult for them to go to the mosques, it is obligatory for them to go to the mosques and pray with the people. In that case, there is no combining and no shortening. If they go with the people, they will pray them completely. And if they pray with the people, they will pray Dhuhr in its time and 'Asr in its time, and the rest of the prayers in their times as well. Yes.
The questioner : More than one question on the same topic.
The Shaykh : This is correct. Traveling permits shortening the prayer. In fact, shortening is a recommended practice (sunnah) in it. It also permits combining prayers, whether the person is staying or in transit. However, if he is in transit, combining is a recommended practice (sunnah) and better than not combining. If he is staying, combining is permissible but not a recommended practice (sunnah). The best course is not to combine, except out of need. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) during the expedition to Tabuk would combine the Dhuhr and 'Asr prayers. And during the Farewell Pilgrimage, he was staying in al-Abtah in the southern part of Makkah. Abu Juhayfah, the Companion (may Allah be pleased with him), mentioned that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went out one day wearing a red robe. I planted the peg for his camel (a stick) for him, and he prayed Dhuhr in two rak'ahs and 'Asr in two rak'ahs. This was combining in a place of residence, at the end of the last journey the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made. So understand this. What is the ruling on shortening while traveling? It is a recommended practice (sunnah) absolutely. Combining while traveling is a recommended practice (sunnah) for one who is in transit, and permissible for one who is staying. But let the men know that if they are in a city where the congregational prayer is established and it is not difficult for them to go to the mosques, it is obligatory for them to go to the mosques and pray with the people. In that case, there is no combining and no shortening. If they go with the people, they will pray them completely. And if they pray with the people, they will pray Dhuhr in its time and 'Asr in its time, and the rest of the prayers in their times as well. Yes.
The questioner : More than one question on the same topic.