The Criterion for Combining Prayers in the Rain
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Question:
The questioner asks: What is the criterion for combining prayers when it rains? Please guide us on this, O Shaykh?
Answer:
Combining prayers is a dispensation when it rains, or when one is ill, and likewise when traveling. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) loves that His dispensations be taken. So, if rain falls upon the Muslims that makes it difficult for them to perform the prayer at its time, whether 'Isha' or 'Asr combined with Zuhr, there is no harm in their combining them, just as the traveler combines between Zuhr and 'Asr, and between Maghrib and 'Isha'. Thus, Muslims in villages and cities, if rain falls upon them and the markets become slippery and muddy with flowing water, they combine between Maghrib and 'Isha' by advancing the later prayer; so that it does not become difficult for them to go out for 'Isha' while the continuous rain, or the slipperiness in the markets, the sliding, and the mud in the markets persist. As for combining between Zuhr and 'Asr, there is disagreement among the scholars.
The correct view is that there is no harm in combining between them when a valid legal excuse exists. If a valid legal excuse is present, combining is permissible, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) combined in travel, in fear, and in illness. All of this is permissible, and there is no harm. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged the Ummah to do what involves ease and what is good for them. He loved it and said:Bulugh al-Maram 2:341 And Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) combined between Zuhr and 'Asr, and between Maghrib and 'Isha', without fear and without rain." In another narration: "without fear and without travel." It was said to Ibn 'Abbas: Why? He said: "So that he would not cause hardship upon his Ummah," meaning: so that his Ummah would not fall into hardship. So, if there is rain, or fear, or illness, hardship arises; then there is no harm in their combining.
Regarding this hadith, a group of scholars said that it is abrogated. But the correct view is that it is not abrogated. However, it is understood to be a combination for a valid legal excuse, other than fear, other than rain, and other than travel, such as slipperiness. For slipperiness is also a valid legal excuse. So, if the markets are slippery and there is mud around the mosque, even for some of the congregation, this is an excuse. If some of the congregation are near the mosque and do not face difficulty, but the rest of the congregation face difficulty due to the mud and the gullies, meaning the channels of the flood, this is a valid legal excuse.
And if they leave combining between Zuhr and 'Asr to avoid the disagreement, and they endure some difficulty, this is good, if Allah wills. But with the presence of difficulty, the evidence indicates combining between Zuhr and 'Asr, and between Maghrib and 'Isha' when there is need and hardship. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, Your Eminence the Shaykh.
The questioner asks: What is the criterion for combining prayers when it rains? Please guide us on this, O Shaykh?
Answer:
Combining prayers is a dispensation when it rains, or when one is ill, and likewise when traveling. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) loves that His dispensations be taken. So, if rain falls upon the Muslims that makes it difficult for them to perform the prayer at its time, whether 'Isha' or 'Asr combined with Zuhr, there is no harm in their combining them, just as the traveler combines between Zuhr and 'Asr, and between Maghrib and 'Isha'. Thus, Muslims in villages and cities, if rain falls upon them and the markets become slippery and muddy with flowing water, they combine between Maghrib and 'Isha' by advancing the later prayer; so that it does not become difficult for them to go out for 'Isha' while the continuous rain, or the slipperiness in the markets, the sliding, and the mud in the markets persist. As for combining between Zuhr and 'Asr, there is disagreement among the scholars.
The correct view is that there is no harm in combining between them when a valid legal excuse exists. If a valid legal excuse is present, combining is permissible, just as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) combined in travel, in fear, and in illness. All of this is permissible, and there is no harm. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged the Ummah to do what involves ease and what is good for them. He loved it and said:
Allah the Most High loves that His permissions be practiced, just as he dislikes that disobedience to Him be committed.
إن الله يحب أن تؤتى رخصه كما يكره أن تؤتى معصيتهRegarding this hadith, a group of scholars said that it is abrogated. But the correct view is that it is not abrogated. However, it is understood to be a combination for a valid legal excuse, other than fear, other than rain, and other than travel, such as slipperiness. For slipperiness is also a valid legal excuse. So, if the markets are slippery and there is mud around the mosque, even for some of the congregation, this is an excuse. If some of the congregation are near the mosque and do not face difficulty, but the rest of the congregation face difficulty due to the mud and the gullies, meaning the channels of the flood, this is a valid legal excuse.
And if they leave combining between Zuhr and 'Asr to avoid the disagreement, and they endure some difficulty, this is good, if Allah wills. But with the presence of difficulty, the evidence indicates combining between Zuhr and 'Asr, and between Maghrib and 'Isha' when there is need and hardship. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah reward you with good, Your Eminence the Shaykh.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.