Permissibility of Combining Two Prayers During Travel

Author: Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلوة والسلام على رسوله الأمين، أما بعد:

❀ Obligation of Five Daily Prayers​

Allah Almighty has made five daily prayers obligatory on every accountable human (and jinn), as established by widely known and mutawatir (mass transmitted) Hadiths and the consensus of the Ummah. When the Prophet ﷺ sent Mu'adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه towards Yemen, he said:

إنك تقدم على قوم من أهل الكتاب فليكن أوّل ما تدعوهم إلى أن يوحدوا الله تعالى، فإذا عرفوا ذلك فأخبرهم أن الله فرض عليهم خمس صلوات في يومهم وليلتهم.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 7372, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 19)

Allah Almighty states:

إِنَّ الصَّلوةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتبًا مَّوْقُوتًا
(An-Nisā’: 103)

Thus, prayer is obligatory for believers at their prescribed times. However, combining prayers—meaning performing one prayer alongside another—is permissible based on authentic Hadiths in specific circumstances such as at Arafat, Muzdalifah, and during travel.

This concise article presents the narrations and traditions proving the permissibility of combining two prayers during travel.

❀ General Proofs for Combining Prayers During Travel​

➊ Nafi' narrated that Abdullah bin Umar رضي الله عنه said:
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ hurried during travel, he would combine Maghrib and Isha prayers.
(Al-Muwaṭṭaʾ of Imam Malik 1/134, Ḥadīth 327; authentic chain)

This meaning is also narrated from Salim bin Abdullah bin Umar from his father.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1106, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 703/45)

➋ Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrated:
Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was on a journey, he combined Dhuhr and Asr and Maghrib and Isha prayers.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1107, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 705/51)

➌ Anas bin Malik رضي الله عنه narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ combined Maghrib and Isha prayers while traveling.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 118, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 704)

Anas رضي الله عنه further said:
If the sun had not yet declined, the Prophet ﷺ would delay Dhuhr until the time for Asr and then combine them. If the sun had already declined, he would pray Dhuhr and then proceed on the journey.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 704)

➍ Mu'adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه narrated:
During the expedition of Tabuk, the Prophet ﷺ combined Dhuhr and Asr, and Maghrib and Isha prayers.
Upon inquiry, it was said: He did so to prevent hardship upon his Ummah.
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 706/53)


➎ Umar bin Ali bin Abi Talib رحمه الله narrated:
Ali رضي الله عنه, when traveling at sunset and darkness, would dismount to perform Maghrib, then have dinner, then pray Isha before continuing travel, saying: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did the same."
(Sunan Abi Dawud: 1334)

➏ Aisha رضي الله عنها narrated:
The Prophet ﷺ, during travel, would delay Dhuhr and hasten Asr; similarly, he would delay Maghrib and hasten Isha.
(Musnad Ahmad 6/135, Hasan chain)

❀ Traditions of the Companions and Followers​

Examples include:

• Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه combining prayers when in a hurry during travel.
  (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 703/43)
• Abu Uthman Abdul Rahman bin Mahdi رحمہ الله narrated: He and Saad bin Abi Waqqas رضي الله عنه combined Dhuhr and Asr, and Maghrib and Isha while hastening for Hajj.
  (Sharh Ma'ani al-Athar 1/166)
• Abdullah bin Mas'ud رضي الله عنه would delay Dhuhr and hasten Asr during travel.
  (Sharh Ma'ani al-Athar 1/166)
• Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari رضي الله عنه also combined prayers while traveling.
  (Muṣannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 2/457)
• Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما stated: If you are traveling and distant from your destination with urgency, then combine the two prayers before resuming travel.
  (Al-Sunan al-Kubra of al-Bayhaqi 3/164)
• Many followers like Abu Sha'tha, Ata bin Abi Rabah, Ibn Shihab al-Zuhri, and others also combined prayers during travel.

❀ Combining by Delay (جمع تأخير)​

It is proven that:

• The Prophet ﷺ would delay Dhuhr until Asr's time if traveling before the sun’s zenith.
  (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 111, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 704)
• Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه would combine prayers after twilight disappearance while traveling.
  (Al-Sunan al-Kubra of Al-Bayhaqi 3/160)

Thus, جمع تأخير (delaying and combining) is permissible.

❀ Combining by Advancement (جمع تقديم)​

A Hadith from Mu'adh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه confirms:

If traveling after the sun's zenith, the Prophet ﷺ would perform Dhuhr and Asr together before traveling.
(Musnad Ahmad 9/94)

This narration is classified as authentic by numerous scholars like Tirmidhi, Ibn Hibban, and Ibn al-Qayyim.

Thus, جمع تقديم (advancing and combining) during travel is also permissible.

❀ Apparent Combination (جمع صوري)​

Praying Dhuhr at its last time and Asr at its earliest time is called جمع صوري and is unanimously accepted.

❀ Summary of Research​

Traveling permits all three types of combinations:

✿ جمع تأخير (Delay and Combine)
✿ جمع تقديم (Advance and Combine)
✿ جمع صوري (Apparent Combination)


This view is supported by Imams Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ishaq bin Rahwayh, and Imam Shafi’i رحمهم الله.

❀ Combining Prayers Due to Rain​

• It is permissible to combine prayers in case of rain or fear, based on the Hadith of Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما.
  (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 705)
• Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه used to combine prayers with the rulers during rainy nights.
  (Al-Muwaṭṭaʾ of Imam Malik 1/145)
• Other scholars and companions like Sa'id bin al-Musayyib, Aban bin Uthman, and others also practiced combining during rain.
  

❀ Important Note​

Combining prayers without a valid excuse while at home, village, or city (حضر) is not permissible according to the Quran and Sunnah. Combining is only allowed to remove hardship during travel, rain, or fear.