Taken from: "Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith", Volume 02
If a person is overcome by sleep, fatigue, or some necessity, is it permissible for him to combine the Maghrib prayer with the ‘Isha prayer while not traveling? Please clarify the matter apart from travel-related scenarios.
✦ In the state of ḥaḍar (residence/non-travel), combining two prayers (i.e., jam‘ taqdīm or jam‘ ta’khīr) is generally not permitted.
This permission is given only in a state of travel (safar), under certain valid conditions.
The combining of two prayers while traveling is established through authentic narrations. For example, the report from Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنه states:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ combined Zuhr and ‘Asr, and Maghrib and ‘Isha prayers during a journey."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Taqṣīr al-Ṣalāh, Bab al-Jam‘ fi al-Safar bayna al-Maghrib wa al-‘Isha)
① Jam‘ Taqdīm – Performing ‘Asr with Zuhr, or ‘Isha with Maghrib, at the time of the earlier prayer.
② Jam‘ Ta’khīr – Delaying Zuhr to combine with ‘Asr, or delaying Maghrib to combine with ‘Isha, during the time of the later prayer.
These are permissible in specific conditions during travel, as done by the Prophet ﷺ, especially noted in the incident of the Battle of Tabuk, where:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ combined prayers during the journey to relieve the hardship of his Ummah."
(Abu Dawud, Kitab Salat al-Safar, Bab al-Jam‘ bayna al-Ṣalātayn)
However, there is a notable exception reported by Ibn ʿAbbas رضي الله عنهما, who narrated:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ combined Zuhr and ‘Asr, and Maghrib and ‘Isha in Madinah without fear or rain."
When asked about this, he responded:
"He did that to prevent hardship upon his Ummah."
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab Salat al-Musafirin, Bab al-Jam‘ bayna al-Ṣalātayn fi al-Ḥaḍar)
This Hadith shows that combining prayers in residence is not the norm, but can be done in rare cases of genuine difficulty, such as severe illness, overwhelming fatigue, or similar valid excuses—but not out of convenience or habit.
① In general, combining Maghrib and ‘Isha while not traveling is not permissible.
② It is allowed only during travel, as per the Sunnah.
③ In cases of severe hardship, as reported by Ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنه, it may be allowed occasionally and with caution.
④ It should not be made a routine or casual practice in the state of residence.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
❀ Question:
If a person is overcome by sleep, fatigue, or some necessity, is it permissible for him to combine the Maghrib prayer with the ‘Isha prayer while not traveling? Please clarify the matter apart from travel-related scenarios.
❀ Answer:
✦ In the state of ḥaḍar (residence/non-travel), combining two prayers (i.e., jam‘ taqdīm or jam‘ ta’khīr) is generally not permitted.
This permission is given only in a state of travel (safar), under certain valid conditions.
✿ Combining Prayers During Travel:
The combining of two prayers while traveling is established through authentic narrations. For example, the report from Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنه states:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ combined Zuhr and ‘Asr, and Maghrib and ‘Isha prayers during a journey."
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Taqṣīr al-Ṣalāh, Bab al-Jam‘ fi al-Safar bayna al-Maghrib wa al-‘Isha)
✿ Types of Combining:
① Jam‘ Taqdīm – Performing ‘Asr with Zuhr, or ‘Isha with Maghrib, at the time of the earlier prayer.
② Jam‘ Ta’khīr – Delaying Zuhr to combine with ‘Asr, or delaying Maghrib to combine with ‘Isha, during the time of the later prayer.
These are permissible in specific conditions during travel, as done by the Prophet ﷺ, especially noted in the incident of the Battle of Tabuk, where:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ combined prayers during the journey to relieve the hardship of his Ummah."
(Abu Dawud, Kitab Salat al-Safar, Bab al-Jam‘ bayna al-Ṣalātayn)
✿ Combining Prayers While in Hadar:
However, there is a notable exception reported by Ibn ʿAbbas رضي الله عنهما, who narrated:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ combined Zuhr and ‘Asr, and Maghrib and ‘Isha in Madinah without fear or rain."
When asked about this, he responded:
"He did that to prevent hardship upon his Ummah."
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab Salat al-Musafirin, Bab al-Jam‘ bayna al-Ṣalātayn fi al-Ḥaḍar)
This Hadith shows that combining prayers in residence is not the norm, but can be done in rare cases of genuine difficulty, such as severe illness, overwhelming fatigue, or similar valid excuses—but not out of convenience or habit.
✔ Summary:
① In general, combining Maghrib and ‘Isha while not traveling is not permissible.
② It is allowed only during travel, as per the Sunnah.
③ In cases of severe hardship, as reported by Ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنه, it may be allowed occasionally and with caution.
④ It should not be made a routine or casual practice in the state of residence.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
