How to Combine Prayers While Traveling

One of the earliest letters received for this program came from listener Abdullah al-Ali al-Faraj from al-Majma'ah. He writes in his letter: If I am traveling and the time for the Zuhr prayer arrives, should I pray Zuhr together with 'Asr, combining and shortening them, or should I delay the Zuhr prayer until the time of 'Asr and pray them as a second combination? Please inform us; may Allah reward you.
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance.
To proceed: Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has prescribed for the traveler to shorten the prayer. The four-rak'ah prayers are prayed as two rak'ahs: Zuhr, 'Asr, and 'Isha'. As for Maghrib, it is prayed as it is, three rak'ahs, and likewise Fajr is prayed as it is, two rak'ahs. As for Zuhr, 'Asr, and 'Isha, the sunnah is that they are prayed as two rak'ahs. This is the sunnah for the traveler. As for combining, it is a dispensation; if one combines, there is no harm, and if one does not combine, there is no harm. It is permissible for the traveler to combine Zuhr and 'Asr in the time of either one, and to combine Maghrib and 'Isha in the time of either one. If he wishes, he may bring 'Asr forward with Zuhr, and if he wishes, he may delay Zuhr with 'Asr. He has a choice in all of this. However, the best for the traveler, if he departs after the sun has passed its zenith, is to bring 'Asr forward with Zuhr and pray them together so that he may continue his journey and so that he does not need to stop at the beginning of the time of 'Asr.
As for if he departs from his place on his journey before the sun passes its zenith, then the best for him is to delay Zuhr until he prays it with 'Asr as a combination of delay. Likewise, Maghrib with 'Isha: if he departs before sunset, the best is to delay Maghrib with 'Isha and pray them as a combination of delay. And if he departs after sunset, the best is to bring 'Isha forward with Maghrib and pray them as a combination of advancement. This is what is preserved from the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). As for if he is staying in one place, he has a choice: if he wishes, he may combine as a combination of advancement, and if he wishes, he may combine as a combination of delay. And if he prays each prayer in its own time, that is better if he is staying in one place. If he prays Zuhr in its time, and 'Asr in its time, and Maghrib in its time, and 'Isha in its time, that is better. And this is the most common of the action of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). And if he combines while staying in one place, between Zuhr and 'Asr, and between Maghrib and 'Isha, in the time of the first or in the time of the second, all of that has no blame in it, and praise be to Allah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and may Allah bless you.