Muslim

591. Commentary: The meaning of this narration is the same as the previous narration, that is, apparently this was a case of combining the prayers by delaying (jama‘ ta’khir). This should be done occasionally, especially when there is a genuine engagement, just as it is established from the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) only once.

602. Commentary: See Sunan an-Nasa'i, benefits of hadith: 590

Combining Prayers Without Any Excuse
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam combined prayers even without any excuse.

It is narrated from Ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhuma that «جمع رسول الله بين الظهر والعصر وبين المغرب والعشاء بالمدينة من غير خوف ولا مطر» and in another narration «من غير خوف ولا سفر» “The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam combined Dhuhr and Asr, and Maghrib and Isha in Madinah without any fear or rain.” And in another narration it is stated: “He combined them without any fear or travel.”

[مؤطا 144/1، كتاب قصر الصلاة فى السفر: باب الجمع بين الصلاتين فى الحضر والسفر، مسلم 705، أبو ا داود 1210، نسائي 602، 601، ابن خزيمة 971، أحمد 283/1]

It should be remembered here that there are two forms of combining prayers:

➊ To perform one prayer in the time of another in such a way that only the time of one prayer has entered, not the other—for example, performing Asr with Dhuhr at its initial time. This type of combining is only permissible for the traveler.

➋ To delay the first prayer until its last time and to perform the second prayer early in its time, so that apparently both prayers are performed together, but in reality, each is performed in its own time. This is called “apparent combining” (jam‘ suri), and the narration in which combining prayers without any excuse is mentioned refers to this type of combining. As narrated from Ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhuma that «اصليت مع النبى الظهر والعصر جميعا والمغرب والعشاء جميعا أخر الظهر وعجل العصر...... وأخر المغرب عجل العشاء» “I performed Dhuhr and Asr together with the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and Maghrib and Isha together (in such a way that he delayed Dhuhr and performed Asr early, and delayed Maghrib and performed Isha early).”

[مسلم 1152، كتاب صلاة المسافرين وقصرها: باب الجمع بين الصلاتين فى الحضر]

(Shawkani rahimahullah) holds this view. [نيل الأوطار 227/2]

(Abd al-Rahman Mubarakpuri rahimahullah) gives preference to this. [تحفة الأحوذى 585/1]

During rain and in a state of illness, some scholars have permitted combining prayers (like the traveler), such as Imam Ahmad rahimahullah, Imam Shafi‘i rahimahullah, and Imam Ishaq rahimahullah and others. However, according to the well-known opinion of Imam Shafi‘i, it is reported that combining prayers for the sick is prohibited.

[تحفة الأحوذى 587/1، فتح البارى 231/2]

(Preferred Opinion) During rain or illness, it is not correct to combine prayers (like the traveler, i.e., in one time), because if this were permissible, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would have combined prayers in a state of illness and would have instructed other sick Companions to do so, whereas nothing of this sort is reported. However, the permissibility of apparent combining (performing each prayer in its own time) remains in any case. [السيل الحرار 193/1]

(Hanafis) Do not permit combining prayers even during travel. Their evidence is a weak narration, which is not acceptable as proof.

[فيض القدير 113/6، ضعيف ترمذي 28، الضعيفة 4581، ضعيف الجامع 5546]

. . . For the original article, see . . .
Fiqh al-Hadith by Imran Ayyub Lahori, Volume 1, p. 317

Hadith Authentication:
[وأخرجه مسلم 705، من حديث مالك به وصرح ابوزبير بالسماع عنده705/51]

Jurisprudential Understanding
➊ With the exception of a deviant sect, there is consensus among the scholars that combining two prayers without a valid excuse while residing (i.e., in one’s place of residence) is not permissible. See: [التمهيد 210/12]
➋ Combining two prayers is permissible in the following situations:
Travel, Hajj, rain, during battle with disbelievers, state of fear, and legitimate Shar‘i excuses such as severe hardship or serious illness, etc.
➌ For combining two prayers during travel, see: [الموطأ حديث 108، 199، ومسلم: 2281، 703] and [ماهنامه الحديث حضرو : 52ص17]
➍ For combining the Zuhr and Asr prayers together during Hajj, see: [مسلم 1218، ترقيم دار السلام : 2950، وصحيح بخاري 1662]
➎ Combining two prayers due to rain is permissible. When the rulers would combine the Maghrib and Isha prayers during rain, Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar radi Allahu anhu would also combine these prayers with them. [الموطا 145/1 ح 329 وسندہ صحیح]

Benefit:
From this hadith, it is understood that in the case of combining prayers (jam‘), only the obligatory (fard) prayers are to be performed, and that Dhuhr is to be delayed and ‘Asr performed earlier, and Maghrib is to be delayed and ‘Isha performed earlier. This hadith is evidence for the permissibility of combining prayers while resident (not traveling) and without any excuse. Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbas radi Allahu anhuma once combined Dhuhr and ‘Asr in Basrah and did not perform anything between them. Then he said: I performed eight rak‘ahs of Dhuhr and ‘Asr together with the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in Madinah, and he did not perform anything between them. [سنن النسائي : 591 مختصراً فى صحيح البخاري : 543]