Ruling on Combining the 'Asr Prayer with the Zuhr or Friday Prayer

Question:
This questioner, who used the initials (M. H.) as a code for his name, said: Your Eminence, some people say that it is not permissible to combine the 'Asr prayer with any other prayer, while others say: it is better not to combine it with the other prayers. What is your opinion on this?

Answer:
The 'Asr prayer is combined with the Zuhr prayer for the sick person and the traveler. The 'Asr prayer is combined with the Zuhr prayer, either by bringing it forward or delaying it, for the sick person and the traveler. However, the 'Asr prayer is not combined with the Friday prayer. On Friday, if a person prays the Friday prayer with the people, he does not pray the 'Asr prayer with it; he prays the 'Asr prayer in its proper time. If he is a traveler who passes through a town and prays the Friday prayer with them, he prays the 'Asr prayer in its proper time.
As for days other than Friday, the 'Asr prayer is combined with the Zuhr prayer. There is no harm if he is a sick person for whom not combining them is difficult, or if he is a traveler. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you and bless you.