If a person leaves a Muslim country for a non-Muslim country for the purpose of studying or otherwise, is he permitted to shorten and combine prayers in that country, or must he complete them because he is a resident?

The questioner : As for us, as young people, do we have the right to combine and shorten prayers there for a specific period, considering that we are not residents? Or does this depend on whether I consider my status as a resident there or not? How is that?

The Shaykh : Of course, when you or anyone else goes there and intends to reside, believing that he will stay for one, two, or three years until he finishes, for example, his studies or is working toward that, it is not permissible for him to pray the prayer of a traveler. The traveler is one who, as the Noble Qur'an expresses in very precise Arabic—which is the answer to a question like this—Allah the Exalted said: So, if someone leaves, for example, Amman or any other Muslim country for a country in Europe while he is a traveler, does it apply to one who went there to study for four years, for example, or is studying, that he is a traveler? No. Therefore, it is never permissible for these people to shorten the prayer. As for others. It is now eleven ten, yes.