A man shortened and combined the Zuhr and 'Asr prayers as a combined early prayer one hour before arriving in his hometown; does he have to repeat the prayer when he arrives?
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The questioner : Shall we begin?
The Shaykh : Yes, please go ahead.
The questioner : Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : The question is: A man was traveling, and when he was about an hour's distance from the town he was traveling to, the time for the Zuhr prayer entered. He went to one of the mosques and prayed Zuhr and 'Asr as a combined early prayer. Does he have to repeat the 'Asr prayer when he arrives? And is it better for him to combine them or to pray only Zuhr, since he will arrive before 'Asr?
The Shaykh : First: It must be known that it is recommended for the traveler to shorten the four-rak'ah prayer to two rak'ahs from the time he leaves his town until he returns to it, and there is no dispute in this. As for combining prayers, it is better not to combine them except when there is a need to combine. Based on this, we say to this man who knows, or whose strong suspicion is, that he will arrive in his town before the time for the second prayer enters: It is better not to combine, because there is no need to combine at that time; you are not in need of it. However, if he does combine, he is not required to repeat the prayer when he arrives in his town, because his obligation is discharged by the prayer he combined with the previous one. Yes?
The questioner : Okay, Shaykh, what if we say that something might happen to him during the journey, like a car breakdown?
The Shaykh : All of this is expected.
The questioner : Do you mean we do not say it is better to combine?
The Shaykh : No, it is better not to combine, because the occurrence of something that prevents arrival is not certain nor is it the most likely outcome; the most likely outcome is safety.
The Shaykh : Yes, please go ahead.
The questioner : Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : The question is: A man was traveling, and when he was about an hour's distance from the town he was traveling to, the time for the Zuhr prayer entered. He went to one of the mosques and prayed Zuhr and 'Asr as a combined early prayer. Does he have to repeat the 'Asr prayer when he arrives? And is it better for him to combine them or to pray only Zuhr, since he will arrive before 'Asr?
The Shaykh : First: It must be known that it is recommended for the traveler to shorten the four-rak'ah prayer to two rak'ahs from the time he leaves his town until he returns to it, and there is no dispute in this. As for combining prayers, it is better not to combine them except when there is a need to combine. Based on this, we say to this man who knows, or whose strong suspicion is, that he will arrive in his town before the time for the second prayer enters: It is better not to combine, because there is no need to combine at that time; you are not in need of it. However, if he does combine, he is not required to repeat the prayer when he arrives in his town, because his obligation is discharged by the prayer he combined with the previous one. Yes?
The questioner : Okay, Shaykh, what if we say that something might happen to him during the journey, like a car breakdown?
The Shaykh : All of this is expected.
The questioner : Do you mean we do not say it is better to combine?
The Shaykh : No, it is better not to combine, because the occurrence of something that prevents arrival is not certain nor is it the most likely outcome; the most likely outcome is safety.