What is the ruling on one who combines and shortens the prayer on his way to Mada'in Saleh for the purpose of taking a lesson?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
May the peace of Allah, His mercy, and His blessings be upon you, esteemed Shaykh. A group of people went out to Mada'in Saleh for the purpose of taking a lesson and drawing a moral. They combined the Dhuhr and 'Asr prayers by delaying them and prayed them shortened in Mada'in Saleh. What is the ruling on their prayer?
The Shaykh : Are they travelers or residents of the town?
The questioner : No, are they from outside the town?
The Shaykh : It is permissible for a traveler to shorten and combine prayers until he returns to his town, whether he went out for a leisure trip, or for worship, such as a person performing 'Umrah or Hajj, or for knowledge, or for trade. The important thing is that as long as he is a traveler, Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:[An-Nisa 4:101] And Allah did not specify one type of travel over another, but He made it general and comprehensive. You mentioned in your question that these people went to Mada'in Saleh for the purpose of taking a lesson and drawing a moral. Taking a lesson and drawing a moral are of two types:
Taking a lesson and drawing a moral from the power and capability of these people, who used to carve houses out of the mountains, is not permissible, because this leads to glorifying them and hardens the heart. As for the one who goes to draw a moral from Allah's taking of retribution upon them, and that despite their greatness they did not harm Allah in any way, nor were they able to defeat Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), then there is nothing wrong with that.
And with that, I inform you and inform whoever is listening and learning that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 4420.
So whoever goes and enters while weeping out of fear of Allah the Mighty and Majestic, let him do so; otherwise, he should not enter, but rather stay away. For this reason, when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by their dwellings on his way to Tabuk or on his return from it, he covered his head, lowered it, and hastened his pace, (peace and blessings be upon him). So what about the one who goes and stops in their courtyard?
Even if it is for a religious lesson, we do not advise him to do so. If he is drawing a religious lesson, let him read the Qur'an. The faith of the believer in what is in the Qur'an is greater than his faith in what he sees. And although seeing it undoubtedly gives an increase in faith, in any case we say: whoever goes to these people in the manner the Messenger stipulated:Sahih al-Bukhari 4420 Yes.
The questioner : But they prayed shortened and combined?
The Shaykh : Huh?
The questioner : They prayed Dhuhr and 'Asr combined and shortened.
The Shaykh : Yes, we say their prayer is valid because they are travelers.
May the peace of Allah, His mercy, and His blessings be upon you, esteemed Shaykh. A group of people went out to Mada'in Saleh for the purpose of taking a lesson and drawing a moral. They combined the Dhuhr and 'Asr prayers by delaying them and prayed them shortened in Mada'in Saleh. What is the ruling on their prayer?
The Shaykh : Are they travelers or residents of the town?
The questioner : No, are they from outside the town?
The Shaykh : It is permissible for a traveler to shorten and combine prayers until he returns to his town, whether he went out for a leisure trip, or for worship, such as a person performing 'Umrah or Hajj, or for knowledge, or for trade. The important thing is that as long as he is a traveler, Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:
And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer
وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَقْصُرُوا مِنَ الصَّلاةِTaking a lesson and drawing a moral from the power and capability of these people, who used to carve houses out of the mountains, is not permissible, because this leads to glorifying them and hardens the heart. As for the one who goes to draw a moral from Allah's taking of retribution upon them, and that despite their greatness they did not harm Allah in any way, nor were they able to defeat Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), then there is nothing wrong with that.
And with that, I inform you and inform whoever is listening and learning that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Do not enter upon these people who are being punished, except in a weeping state, lest the same calamity as of theirs should befall you...
لا تدخلوا على هؤلاء المعذبين إلا أن تكونوا باكين، أن يصيبكم مثلُما أصابهمSo whoever goes and enters while weeping out of fear of Allah the Mighty and Majestic, let him do so; otherwise, he should not enter, but rather stay away. For this reason, when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by their dwellings on his way to Tabuk or on his return from it, he covered his head, lowered it, and hastened his pace, (peace and blessings be upon him). So what about the one who goes and stops in their courtyard?
Even if it is for a religious lesson, we do not advise him to do so. If he is drawing a religious lesson, let him read the Qur'an. The faith of the believer in what is in the Qur'an is greater than his faith in what he sees. And although seeing it undoubtedly gives an increase in faith, in any case we say: whoever goes to these people in the manner the Messenger stipulated:
Do not enter upon these people who are being punished, except in a weeping state, lest the same calamity as of theirs should befall you...
لا تدخلوا على هؤلاء المعذبين إلا أن تكونوا باكين، أن يصيبكم مثل ما أصابهمThe questioner : But they prayed shortened and combined?
The Shaykh : Huh?
The questioner : They prayed Dhuhr and 'Asr combined and shortened.
The Shaykh : Yes, we say their prayer is valid because they are travelers.