Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
Question:
When two prayers are combined, is it necessary to give the iqāmah for each prayer? And should the iqāmah also be given for nafl (voluntary) prayers?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
1. Giving the Iqāmah for Each Combined Prayer
When two prayers—such as Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr, or Maghrib and ʿIshāʾ—are combined, it is Sunnah to give a separate iqāmah for each prayer.
Evidence:
This is based on the ḥadīth of Ḥaḍrat Jābir رضي الله عنه describing the Prophet ﷺ’s practice during Ḥajj:
“The Prophet ﷺ combined Maghrib and ʿIshāʾ at Muzdalifah, giving a separate iqāmah for each, and he did not offer any nafl prayer between them.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Ḥajj, Ḥadīth: 1673;
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ḥajj, Ḥadīth: 1285, 281)
2. Iqāmah for Nafl Prayers
It is not legislated to give the iqāmah for nafl (voluntary) prayers.
The iqāmah is prescribed only for farḍ (obligatory) prayers.
Proof:
In the above ḥadīth, the Prophet ﷺ did not perform any nafl prayer between the two combined prayers, nor did he give iqāmah for nafl prayers at any other time.
✅ Summary:
- When combining two prayers: give a separate iqāmah for each.
- Nafl prayers: no iqāmah should be given.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
