If a traveler knows that he will enter the town before the time of 'Isha' begins, is it permissible for him to combine Maghrib with 'Isha', or not?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. Is it permissible for a traveler to combine 'Isha' with Maghrib by advancing the prayer, knowing that he will enter the town before the time of 'Isha', or should he wait until he reaches the town?
The Shaykh : Yes, meaning, if the person is a traveler.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And he knows that he will reach the town before the time of 'Isha', is it permissible for him to combine 'Isha' with Maghrib while traveling, or do we say: wait until you reach the town?
Answer: He may do so. He may combine 'Isha' with Maghrib. First: because he is traveling and the time of Maghrib has entered, and the time of Maghrib and 'Isha' is one in the situation where combining is permissible.
Second: a person may estimate that he will arrive at the time of 'Isha' but not actually arrive. The car may break down, or some cause may prevent him from reaching the town before the time. However, we say: the better course, as long as you know that you will reach the town before the time of the second prayer, is not to combine.
The questioner : Okay, may Allah reward you. If he delays, for example, Maghrib and 'Isha' until he reaches the town, then combines and shortens?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Is that permissible for him? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : If he delays Maghrib until he reaches the town, there is nothing wrong with it. But if he reaches the town and the time of Maghrib is still remaining, it is not permissible for him to delay it. He must pray it in its time, because the cause for combining is travel, and that has ended. Do you understand?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Also, in this situation, you said: he combines and shortens. But in any case, he does not shorten, because the cause for shortening is travel, and when the travel ends, the shortening ends.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes, meaning, if the person is a traveler.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And he knows that he will reach the town before the time of 'Isha', is it permissible for him to combine 'Isha' with Maghrib while traveling, or do we say: wait until you reach the town?
Answer: He may do so. He may combine 'Isha' with Maghrib. First: because he is traveling and the time of Maghrib has entered, and the time of Maghrib and 'Isha' is one in the situation where combining is permissible.
Second: a person may estimate that he will arrive at the time of 'Isha' but not actually arrive. The car may break down, or some cause may prevent him from reaching the town before the time. However, we say: the better course, as long as you know that you will reach the town before the time of the second prayer, is not to combine.
The questioner : Okay, may Allah reward you. If he delays, for example, Maghrib and 'Isha' until he reaches the town, then combines and shortens?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Is that permissible for him? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : If he delays Maghrib until he reaches the town, there is nothing wrong with it. But if he reaches the town and the time of Maghrib is still remaining, it is not permissible for him to delay it. He must pray it in its time, because the cause for combining is travel, and that has ended. Do you understand?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Also, in this situation, you said: he combines and shortens. But in any case, he does not shorten, because the cause for shortening is travel, and when the travel ends, the shortening ends.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Yes.