351. Combining Prayers During Travel

By Asma bint Shameem 

Allaah our Rabb, has told us to strictly guard our five daily prayers and we can NOT miss them under ANY circumstances, even during travel. 

So out of His Mercy, Allaah has made the prayers EASY for us while traveling by allowing us to COMBINE our prayers and shortening them. Alhamdulillaah. 

However the ONLY prayers we’re allowed to combine are Dhuhr with Asr 

And Maghrib with Ishaa. 

We cannot combine any other prayer. 

So for example we cannot combine Ishaa with Fajr. 

Or we cannot combine Fajr with Dhuhr. 

Or Asr with Maghrib. 

We can ONLY combine Dhuhr with Asr. 

And Maghrib with Ishaa. 

WHY this combination ONLY?

Thats because this is what the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam did and taught us to do. 

Mu’aadh radhi Allaahu anhu said: 

“We went out with the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam on the campaign of Tabook, and he used to pray Zuhr and ‘Asr together, and Maghrib and ‘Isha’ together. (Saheeh Muslim)

Remember, ALL acts of Ibaadah HAVE to have PROOFS from the Qur’aan and/or authentic ahaadeeth. 

And since we have proof for combining prayers in this combination ONLY, we will pray this way ONLY as well. 

HOW TO COMBINE?

We are allowed to combine  Dhuhr with Asr, in two ways;

1. At the early time (called Jam’ taqdeem)

Here we can combine Dhuhr with Asr at the time of DHUHR (and it doesn’t matter if Asr time hasn’t started yet)

OR 

2.  Combine at the later time (called Jam’ ta’kheer)

Here we may DELAY Dhuhr and combine it with Asr at the time of ASR. 

And it doesn’t matter if you didn’t pray Dhuhr at it’s time. 

That’s because you’re TRAVELING and delaying Dhuhr prayer during travel is a VALID shar’i excuse. 

And so your Dhuhr is NOT counted as  ‘qadha’ or late. 

SIMILARLY, it’s allowed that we MAY combine Maghrib with Ishaa if that’s easier. 

So we may combine Maghrib with Ishaa in two ways;

1. At the early time (called Jam’ taqdeem)

Here we can pray Maghrib with Ishaa at the time of MAGHRIB (and it doesn’t matter if Ishaa time hasn’t started yet)

OR 

2.  Combine at the later time (called Jam’ ta’kheer)

So we may DELAY Maghrib and pray it with Ishaa at the time of ISHAA’. 

And it doesn’t matter if you didn’t pray Maghrib at it’s time. 

That’s because you’re TRAVELING and delaying Maghrib prayer during travel is a VALID shar’i excuse. 

And so your Maghrib is NOT counted as ‘qadha’ or ‘late’. 

Thus Alhamdulillaah there’s NO excuse for us to miss our prayers EVER, even during travel. 

May Allaah enable us to be of those who strictly guard their prayers at ALL times. 

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ

“Successful indeed are the believers.

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ

“And those who strictly guard their (five daily) Salawaat (prayers) (at their fixed stated hours).” 

(Surah al-Mu’minoon : 1 and 9)

And Allaah knows best

[25/08, 8:09 pm] Asma Bint Shameem: Wa Alaikum Assalaam wa Rahmatullaahi wa Baraakaatuh 

It is permissible to stop reading the Qur’aan and answer the phone. 

Then when you resume your recitation, you should say the ta’awwudh (the term for Aa’oodhu Billaahi min ash-Shaytaanir Rajeem) 

And the majority of the scholars say that it’s recommended to say the Basmalah (the term used the phrase “Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem”)

Imam Ahmad said:

“it (meaning the Basmalah)should not be omitted at the beginning of the Surah. 

Someone asked;

“What if a person starts reading partway through a Surah?” 

He said, “There is nothing wrong [with saying the Basmalah].” 

As for closing the Mus-haf when distracted, it is part of the etiquette of reading the Qur’aan to close it out of respect.

But that’s something recommended and not mandatory. 

And Allaah knows best