The ruling on combining and shortening prayers continuously throughout an indefinite period of travel
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Question:
A listener (M. S. M.) from Riyadh sent a message containing several questions. In his first question, he says: A man traveled and did not know how long he would remain in the town he traveled to, so he combined and shortened his prayers until he moved to another area, which was also not his place of residence. The question is: Are combining and shortening linked permanently? Does the man continue to combine and shorten together, or does he suffice with shortening without combining? Please inform us, may Allah protect you, and I hope that this will be detailed?
Answer:
Shortening is a recommended practice (sunnah) of travel, a confirmed recommended practice; it is to pray two rak'ahs: Zuhr as two rak'ahs, 'Asr as two rak'ahs, and 'Isha' as two rak'ahs. This is called shortening. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to shorten in his travels, praying two rak'ahs—(peace and blessings be upon him)—until he returned. So, the one who intends to stay in a village and does not know how long he will remain there, whether two days, three days, or more? For him, it is a recommended practice to shorten to two rak'ahs, meaning the four-rak'ah prayers: Zuhr, 'Asr, and 'Isha', unless he is alone; in that case, he prays in congregation and prays four rak'ahs with the people, and does not pray alone; because congregation is obligatory. However, if he has companions with him; then they pray two rak'ahs, and if they pray with the congregation; they pray four rak'ahs as long as they do not know the duration of their stay.
As for combining, it is a dispensation (rukhsah), not like shortening. If he needs it; he does it, otherwise he leaves it. If he is on the move, traveling; he combines Zuhr with 'Asr, and Maghrib with 'Isha'. But if he is resting and has stopped; the best is to pray Zuhr alone, 'Asr alone, Maghrib alone, and 'Isha' alone in their times. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he stopped, would pray every prayer in its time, as he did in Mina during the Farewell Pilgrimage, where he would pray every prayer in its time. And so in most of his travels, when he stayed; he would pray every prayer in its time.
However, if the need calls for combining; because he is on the move, or due to the hardship of not combining, he prays Zuhr and 'Asr together, and Maghrib and 'Isha' together, if the need calls for this; due to cold, lack of water, or similar causes. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, Your Eminence the Shaykh, you said: If he is alone, what does he do?
The Shaykh : He prays with the people, with the congregations... the people of the town, he does not pray alone.
The presenter : Meaning: It is not permissible for him to shorten while alone?
The Shaykh: Because it is obligatory for him to perform the prayer in congregation, and if he has no one with him, he prays with the people and completes four rak'ahs; because the traveler, if he prays with the resident; prays four rak'ahs. But if he prays alone, he misses the prayer with the residents, he prays alone; this one prays two rak'ahs.
The presenter : May Allah bless you, and may Allah reward you with good.
A listener (M. S. M.) from Riyadh sent a message containing several questions. In his first question, he says: A man traveled and did not know how long he would remain in the town he traveled to, so he combined and shortened his prayers until he moved to another area, which was also not his place of residence. The question is: Are combining and shortening linked permanently? Does the man continue to combine and shorten together, or does he suffice with shortening without combining? Please inform us, may Allah protect you, and I hope that this will be detailed?
Answer:
Shortening is a recommended practice (sunnah) of travel, a confirmed recommended practice; it is to pray two rak'ahs: Zuhr as two rak'ahs, 'Asr as two rak'ahs, and 'Isha' as two rak'ahs. This is called shortening. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to shorten in his travels, praying two rak'ahs—(peace and blessings be upon him)—until he returned. So, the one who intends to stay in a village and does not know how long he will remain there, whether two days, three days, or more? For him, it is a recommended practice to shorten to two rak'ahs, meaning the four-rak'ah prayers: Zuhr, 'Asr, and 'Isha', unless he is alone; in that case, he prays in congregation and prays four rak'ahs with the people, and does not pray alone; because congregation is obligatory. However, if he has companions with him; then they pray two rak'ahs, and if they pray with the congregation; they pray four rak'ahs as long as they do not know the duration of their stay.
As for combining, it is a dispensation (rukhsah), not like shortening. If he needs it; he does it, otherwise he leaves it. If he is on the move, traveling; he combines Zuhr with 'Asr, and Maghrib with 'Isha'. But if he is resting and has stopped; the best is to pray Zuhr alone, 'Asr alone, Maghrib alone, and 'Isha' alone in their times. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he stopped, would pray every prayer in its time, as he did in Mina during the Farewell Pilgrimage, where he would pray every prayer in its time. And so in most of his travels, when he stayed; he would pray every prayer in its time.
However, if the need calls for combining; because he is on the move, or due to the hardship of not combining, he prays Zuhr and 'Asr together, and Maghrib and 'Isha' together, if the need calls for this; due to cold, lack of water, or similar causes. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, Your Eminence the Shaykh, you said: If he is alone, what does he do?
The Shaykh : He prays with the people, with the congregations... the people of the town, he does not pray alone.
The presenter : Meaning: It is not permissible for him to shorten while alone?
The Shaykh: Because it is obligatory for him to perform the prayer in congregation, and if he has no one with him, he prays with the people and completes four rak'ahs; because the traveler, if he prays with the resident; prays four rak'ahs. But if he prays alone, he misses the prayer with the residents, he prays alone; this one prays two rak'ahs.
The presenter : May Allah bless you, and may Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.