Is it permissible for a traveler to combine the two prayers while he is staying in his place of travel? And what is the evidence for that?

The questioner : You prayed with us... and Shaykh Abd al-Khaliq prayed the 'Asr prayer yesterday. I said: I am combining the 'Asr prayer. Did you combine? Is it permissible to combine the 'Asr with the Dhuhr? You are sitting comfortably, not on a travel road?

The Shaykh : You are asking this question while you know that I am a traveler?

The questioner : I know that you are a traveler.

The Shaykh : You ask while you know that I am a traveler?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : So your question is: Is it permissible for a traveler to combine while he is staying?

The questioner : While he is staying.

The Shaykh : Not moving, not walking.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : If it were not permissible, I would not have done it!

The questioner : I know, but I want the evidence, meaning.

The Shaykh : You say: Is it permissible? So I gave you the answer to your question.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : And that is that if it were not for the staying, I would not have done it.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : So you know that I combined?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : So it is expected of you that at least you have a good opinion of your Muslim brother [The Shaykh laughs!], and that he does not do anything but what is permissible.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : So first, what is the evidence for what I did?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Move the question.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : To the main point.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : You say: What is the evidence?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : The evidence is the hadith of Mu'adh ibn Jabal.

Another questioner: Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Which Malik narrated in "al-Muwatta" and al-Hakim in "al-Mustadrak" with a valid chain, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was staying in Tabuk. So when the time for the Dhuhr prayer came, he went out, so the adhan was called—meaning he ordered the adhan—and the iqamah was established, so he prayed the Dhuhr and the 'Asr, then he went in. And when the time for the Maghrib prayer came, he went out; so the adhan was called, and the iqamah was established, so he prayed the Maghrib and the 'Isha, then he went in. So this is evidence for the permissibility of combining for the traveler who is staying, and this permissibility is not restricted to the traveler who is in a hurry.

The questioner : Clarify a little.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : Clarify, meaning how? The traveler in a hurry?

The Shaykh : Yes; meaning that he continues the journey, so the prayer catches up with him in some place, so he stops and combines.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : This is the one in a hurry, and this is known to be permissible.

The questioner : Correct.

The Shaykh : But the first hadith clarifies that he was staying; meaning he had pitched his tents.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : And I do not think you will distinguish between pitching tents and the houses in which we stay, the important thing is that this is staying and that is staying.

The questioner : Yes, may Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : And may Allah protect you, if Allah wills.

The questioner : No, if Allah wills.

The Shaykh : Yes?

The questioner : Of course, having a good opinion, meaning.

The Shaykh : [The Shaykh laughs!], Yes, this is you not changing the subject.

The questioner : Yes?

The Shaykh : I mean correcting the style of speech.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Not having a bad opinion of you.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : I am not saying that you should have a good opinion of me because you have a bad opinion, but your style indicates that.

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : Did you understand me or not?

The questioner : Yes, may Allah reward you with good.