Source-linked summaryPrayer

What is the ruling on combining and shortening for the traveller? And how does he pray?

Short answer

The traveller may shorten Zuhr, 'Asr and 'Isha' to two rak'ahs, and may combine Zuhr and 'Asr and Maghrib and 'Isha' when needed as long as he is in the ruling of travel.

Evidence and explanation

The Shaykh made clear that shortening the four-rak'ah prayers and combining Zuhr with 'Asr and Maghrib with 'Isha' are among the established concessions of travel.

Scholar referenced

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him

This editorial summary is based on the original source linked below and is not presented as a verbatim quotation from the scholar.

Short literal excerpts from the original Arabic page; no preference from the site

From the text of the answer (Arabic, with an English translation)

Original answer — Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz

ما حكم وكيفية الجمع والقصر للمسافر؟ — فتوى ٥٩٨٢
Question

«إذا سافرت لمسافة تزيد عن مائة وخمسين كيلو متراً وأدركني وقت الظهر ولظرف ما أخرته إلى وقت العصر فهل يجوز لي الجمع والقصر في وقت العصر أو لا يصح ذلك وإنما الجائز جمع فقط بدون قصر؟ أرجو توضيح ذلك ولكم الشكر؟»

English translation (unreviewed): If I travel a distance of more than one hundred and fifty kilometres and the time of Zuhr comes upon me and for some reason I delay it to the time of 'Asr, may I combine and shorten at the time of 'Asr or is that not valid, and only combining without shortening is permissible? Please clarify that, with thanks.

From the text of the answer

«المسافر يجمع بين الظهر والعصر، وبين المغرب والعشاء، ويقصر الظهر والعصر والعشاء، هذا من سُنة السفر أن يقصر؛ يصلي الظهر ثنتين والعصر ثنتين والعشاء ثنتين، أما المغرب فيصليها ثلاثاً تماماً، والفجر كذلك ثنتين. وله أن يجمع بين الظهر والعصر ما دام في السفر؛ فيصليهما في وقت الأولى وهي الظهر، أو في وقت الثانية وهي العصر، أو بينهما، وله أن يجمع بين المغرب والعشاء؛ فيصليهما في وقت المغرب جمع تقديم، أو في وقت العشاء جمع تأخير، أو بين الوقتين في آخر الوقت الأول وأول الوقت الثاني.»

English translation (unreviewed): The traveller combines Zuhr and 'Asr, and Maghrib and 'Isha', and shortens Zuhr, 'Asr and 'Isha'. It is part of the sunnah of travel to shorten: he prays Zuhr two rak'ahs, 'Asr two and 'Isha' two; as for Maghrib he prays it three in full, and Fajr likewise two. And he may combine Zuhr and 'Asr as long as he is travelling: he prays them at the time of the first, which is Zuhr, or at the time of the second, which is 'Asr, or between them; and he may combine Maghrib and 'Isha': he prays them at the time of Maghrib, combining early, or at the time of 'Isha', combining late, or between the two times at the end of the first time and the beginning of the second time.

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The Arabic excerpts matched the original page word for word by an automated check and have not had human scholarly review. The English translations are unreviewed translations made for this site; they are not an approved Shari‘ah translation. Rely on the Arabic original.

Source

What is the ruling and manner of combining and shortening for the traveller?

Title of the original page (Arabic): ما حكم وكيفية الجمع والقصر للمسافر؟

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him

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Related issues

Method noteThis is an editorial summary linked to a source, translated from the Arabic; independent review of its fidelity and of the translation is still pending. Personal cases whose rulings depend on individual facts should be presented with their details to qualified scholars.