If a resident combines the Maghrib and 'Isha' prayers, does he pray the Sunnah?

The questioner : 10: If a resident in his town combines the Maghrib and 'Isha' prayers, does he pray the Sunnah or not?

The Shaykh : We do not have a specific answer in the Sunnah regarding this particular issue. However, it is established in the Sunnah that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he combined prayers while traveling, did not pray the Sunnahs. This is from one perspective. From another perspective, when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) combined the Dhuhr and 'Asr prayers in Madinah on one occasion, and the Maghrib and 'Isha' prayers on another occasion, Ibn 'Abbas was asked...