Ruling on Combining Prayers in the Rain

Q: What is your opinion, Your Eminence, on combining the Maghrib and 'Isha' prayers due to rain in the present day in cities, where the streets are paved and lit, and there is no hardship or mud?

A: There is no harm in combining the Maghrib and 'Isha' prayers, nor the Zuhr and 'Asr prayers, according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions, for rain that makes it difficult to go out to the mosques, and likewise for slippery roads and floods running through the markets, because of the hardship involved. The basis for this is what is established in the two Sahihs from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father): . Muslim added in his narration: .
This indicates that it was established among the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) that fear and rain are valid excuses for combining prayers, just as travel is. However, shortening the prayer is not permissible in this situation; only combining is allowed, because they are residents, not travelers, and shortening is a specific dispensation for travelers. And success is from Allah.