What is the ruling on being lenient or strict regarding the rules of combining prayers while traveling?
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The questioner : The question is about combining prayers while traveling. Some people are lenient, and some are strict in this matter. Some say: If you settle in a place and reach the destination you want, you combine. Some say: No, if the hardship of travel is upon you and you are on the road?
The Shaykh : Yes, combining prayers for the traveler is a recommended practice (sunnah) when there is a need for it, and that is when the road is difficult for him, meaning if he continues in his travel, he combines by bringing the prayer forward if that is easier for him, or by delaying it if that is easier for him.
As for if he is residing in a town or residing in a rest stop in the desert, if he is residing in a rest stop in the desert, the best is not to combine, and if he combines, there is no harm. And if he is residing in a town, it is obligatory for him to attend the congregational prayer, and it is not permissible for him to be absent from the congregation on the grounds that he is a traveler, because the traveler is not exempt from the Friday prayer or the congregation if he is in a town, due to the saying of the Exalted:[Al-Jumu'ah 62:9] the traveler is among those who believe.
And because Allah commanded His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to pray with his companions in congregation during battle, and battle did not occur except in travel. As for what has become widespread among some people in their saying: If he is a traveler, there is no congregation upon him and no Friday prayer, there is consideration in this. And the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) have explicitly stated that the one residing in a town is obligated to perform the Friday prayer, but they said: It is obligated upon him along with others. Yes, that is correct.
The questioner : Oh Shaykh, he says: Sitting in a place where there is what is wrong.
The Shaykh : The question is urgent and not a follow-up to the previous questions. Okay, please proceed.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : No, this is not recorded. Do we record this?
The questioner : Yes, record it.
The Shaykh : Fine.
The Shaykh : Yes, combining prayers for the traveler is a recommended practice (sunnah) when there is a need for it, and that is when the road is difficult for him, meaning if he continues in his travel, he combines by bringing the prayer forward if that is easier for him, or by delaying it if that is easier for him.
As for if he is residing in a town or residing in a rest stop in the desert, if he is residing in a rest stop in the desert, the best is not to combine, and if he combines, there is no harm. And if he is residing in a town, it is obligatory for him to attend the congregational prayer, and it is not permissible for him to be absent from the congregation on the grounds that he is a traveler, because the traveler is not exempt from the Friday prayer or the congregation if he is in a town, due to the saying of the Exalted:
O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسَعَوْا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَAnd because Allah commanded His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to pray with his companions in congregation during battle, and battle did not occur except in travel. As for what has become widespread among some people in their saying: If he is a traveler, there is no congregation upon him and no Friday prayer, there is consideration in this. And the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) have explicitly stated that the one residing in a town is obligated to perform the Friday prayer, but they said: It is obligated upon him along with others. Yes, that is correct.
The questioner : Oh Shaykh, he says: Sitting in a place where there is what is wrong.
The Shaykh : The question is urgent and not a follow-up to the previous questions. Okay, please proceed.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : No, this is not recorded. Do we record this?
The questioner : Yes, record it.
The Shaykh : Fine.