Ruling on Combining Maghrib and ‘Isha in Residence (Hadar)

Is It Permissible to Combine Maghrib and ‘Isha in Residence (Hadar)?​

Source: Ahkam wa Masail – Kitab al-Salat, Vol.1, p.112


Question:
Is it permissible to combine Maghrib and ‘Isha prayers in residence (without fear, travel, or rain)?


Answer:
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba‘d!

◈ Hadith Evidence​

① Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) said:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ combined Zuhr and ‘Asr in Madinah without fear or travel.”
When asked why, he replied:
“So that his Ummah may not be put to hardship.”
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab Salat al-Musafirin, Bab Jawaz al-Jam‘ bayna al-Salatayn fi al-Hadar)


② Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) also said:
“I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ combine Zuhr and ‘Asr, and Maghrib and ‘Isha.”
(Sahih Muslim, same chapter)


③ Clarification comes from another Hadith:
“He delayed Zuhr and prayed ‘Asr early, and delayed Maghrib and prayed ‘Isha early.”
(Sunan al-Nasai, Bab al-Waqt alladhi yujma‘ fihi al-Muqim, Vol.1, p.69)


This shows that the combining was apparent (suratan), not actual (haqiqatan).

◈ Key Points​

1. Normal Practice of the Prophet ﷺ

• The Prophet ﷺ always performed each prayer at its appointed time.
• Combining in hadar without excuse was not his regular practice.
• He did it only once in his life, to show flexibility for the Ummah.

1. Nature of Combining

• The combining was not by moving prayers out of their time.
• Rather, Zuhr was prayed at the end of its time and ‘Asr at the beginning of its time; Maghrib was prayed at the end of its time and ‘Isha at the beginning.
• This gave the appearance of combining (suratan), not actual jam‘ (haqiqatan).

1. Concession for Hardship

• Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) clarified that it was done to prevent hardship.
• However, the Prophet ﷺ never made it a permanent practice, nor did he declare it obligatory or superior.

◈ Ruling for Today​

• If there is real hardship (e.g., rain, illness, emergency travel, or unavoidable difficulty), then occasional suratan combining is permissible.
• But combining Maghrib and ‘Isha every day for 1–2 months due to workload, overtime, or sleep is not supported by Hadith and is not permissible.

Summary:

• The Prophet ﷺ combined in residence only once, and that too suratan (apparent).
• Continuous combining due to worldly occupation or sleep is not allowed.
• In genuine and rare cases of hardship, suratan combining is permissible.

ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب