THE DAILY ISLAMIC REMINDERS. Yaum Arba'a 17th day of Rabeeu ath-thaani (Wednesday 2nd December. 2020).

RULING ON COMBINING TWO SALAAT AT A TIME. BismilLahir.

Studies of the Quran, Sunnah and Consensus of Scholars has shown that it is permissible to combine ONLY two salaat at a time. These two are Zuhur/Asr and Magrib/Isha.  Meaning you cannot combine asr and magrib etc. 

It is permissible for the person who is travelling to combine two prayers if it will be too difficult for him to perform the second prayer on time or if the travelling time is before zuhur then you can make your intention to add zuhur to asr during asr time or when you get to your destination before asr time ends especially those travelling in commercialtransport and it stops for say 15 minutes rest. Note that we cannot pray ANY salaat before the time for such salaat. If you intend to travel before zuhur, you cannot pray zuhur before zuhur time but can delay zuhur and combine it with Asr at asr time. Similarly if you are working and you notice you can pray zuhur on time at your break time but will not be able to pray asr at asr time then you can make up your mind to add Asr to zuhur but our work is not a legitimate reason to delay except those in a situations such as doctors/nurses in operation or attending to urgent patients etc. 

You can do similarly to magrib and Isha whenever you face any difficulties such as rain about to fall after magrib in masjid and you fear it may rain till after isha time then the imam can decide to add ishai after magrib etc.

But let's note that the rewards for praying on time is far more than combining so let's not just combine unnecessarily. ALLAH knows our intentions and difficulties and will reward us according to the intentions and reasons. You can ask any questions but please allow me some time to respond as I can be busy most times. May ALLAH (Azza Wa Jal, The Mighty and the Majestic) keep guiding us all and protect us from any satanic influences in our acts of worship. Aameen.