The religion of Islam has prioritized ease for all its followers. Ease in following the religion concerning social and economic obligations, as well as ease in performing all the duties related to the worship of Allah SWT, such as salah.
The combining of salah not only provides comfort for Muslims in certain situations but also provides a way to follow the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH. Keeping this in mind, this blog will delve deeper into the Prophet PBUH’s practice of combining salah, the proper way to do it, and the conditions under which it is allowed.
Salah That Can Be Combined
Many authentic hadiths highlight the Prophet PBUH combining the prayers. Such as:
“Mu’adh bin Jabal narrated that during the Battle of Tabuk, the Prophet (PBUH) would adjust the timing of his prayers based on his departure. If he aimed to leave before Maghrib, he would postpone Maghrib and pray it together with Isha. However, if he was leaving after Maghrib, he would move Isha forward so that he could pray it alongside Maghrib.”
“Mu’adh bin Jabal narrated that during the Battle of Tabuk, if the Prophet PBUH intended to depart before the sun had declined, he would delay the Zuhr prayer so that he could pray it together with the ‘Asr prayer. If he intended to depart after the sun’s decline, he would hasten the ‘Asr prayer to combine it with the Zuhr prayer and then continue the journey.”
A Muslim has to offer five daily prayers, four of which can be combined if there is a valid reason under Islamic law. These prayers are Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha, and they can be combined in the following manner.
- Zuhr prayer with Asr prayer. Both prayers can be offered at the time of either Zuhr or Asr.
- Maghrib prayer with Isha prayer. Both prayers can be prayed at the time of either Maghrib or Isha.
Note: The Fajr prayer is always prayed separately. It has a distinct time and is offered very early in the morning, before the cycle of the other four prayers starts.
Zuhr And Asr
Anas bin Malik narrated that whenever the Prophet (PBUH) began a journey before noon, he would delay the Zuhr prayer until the time of the ‘Asr prayer and then combine both prayers. However, if it was already past noon, he would perform the Zuhr prayer first and then continue with his journey.
The following are the reasons stated in Islamic law that allow a person to join the Zuhr and Asr prayers.
- A traveler can combine prayers as long as his journey is not disliked or prohibited.
- For a sick person who would face hardship by praying each prayer separately, it is allowed to combine prayers. A woman who is suffering from Istihadah (irregular bleeding) can combine her prayers because Istihadah is also considered a form of sickness.
- A person who can’t work out the time. Such as a person who is blind or is underground.
- Anyone who cannot purify themselves with water or perform Tayammum for each prayer is treated like a traveler or someone ill, as combining prayers is allowed in cases of hardship. Therefore, such a person shares the same ruling due to their inability to purify for every prayer.
- A breastfeeding woman may also combine prayers due to the hardship of frequent impurity, as it is challenging to maintain purification for every prayer. Abu al-Ma‘ali (may Allah have mercy on him) stated that she is considered similar to someone who is ill.
- A person experiencing Istihadah or similar conditions—such as urinary incontinence, continual discharge of madhiy (pre-seminal fluid), persistent nosebleeds, or anything of that nature—falls under the same ruling. This is because of the following hadith:
‘Aishah (RA) narrated that during the time of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), a woman experiencing Istihadah (non-menstrual bleeding) was informed that it was due to a persistent vein. She was instructed to delay Zuhr and bring Asr forward. performing one ghusl for both; to delay Maghrib and bring Isha forward, again with one ghusl for both; and to perform one ghusl for Fajr (Subh).
- One who has a legitimate reason that makes it permissible not to pray Jum’ah and prayers in congregation, such as one who fears for his life or his wealth.
Note: The reason why prayers can be combined may vary from fiqh to fiqh. A Muslim should read the stated guidelines about joining prayers of their fiqh before praying.
Maghrib And Isha
Ibn ‘Umar reported that “The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) combined the Maghrib (sunset) and ‘Isha’ prayers at Muzdalifa. He performed three Rak’ahs for the Maghrib prayer and two Rak’ahs for the ‘Isha’ prayer, all with a single Iqamah.”
The conditions mentioned above permit Muslims to join all Zuhr and Asr prayers, and Maghrib and Isha prayers. However, there are other conditions under which the prayers of only Maghrib and Isha can be combined. Such as:
- If the rain soaks a Muslim’s clothes, shoes, or body, causing hardship.
- It is permissible to join Maghrib and Isha if there is snow or hail because they come under the same ruling as rain.
- It becomes permissible to join Maghrib and Isha together if there is ice because the weather becomes extremely cold, and in cases of mud and extreme cold wind.
Note: The reason why prayers can be combined may vary from fiqh to fiqh. A Muslim should read the stated guidelines about joining prayers of their fiqh before praying.
Hardships During The Day & Ease For The Ummah
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin RA stated:
The sound opinion on this matter is that it is also permissible to combine Dhuhr and ‘Asr in such circumstances (the ones described above), just as Maghrib and ‘Isha’ may be combined. The basis for this allowance is the presence of hardship—whether it occurs during the day or night, joining the prayers is permitted.
(Ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘, 4/393)
He further stated:
If the weather is intensely cold, accompanied by harmful winds, then it becomes permissible to join together Zuhr and Asr and Maghrib and Isha because of the hadith in Sahih Muslim. A similar hadith in Sunan an-Nasai is stated below.
Ibn ‘Abbas narrated that the Prophet PBUH would sometimes combine two prayers in Madinah—joining Zuhr with ‘Asr and Maghrib with ‘Isha’—even when there was neither fear nor rain. When asked why, he replied, “To prevent hardship for his Ummah.”
Commenting on this hadith, he said:
This shows that the purpose of allowing prayers to be combined is to ease hardship for Muslims; otherwise, joining the prayers would not be permitted. In cold weather, hardship is most pronounced when accompanied by strong, chilling winds. Without wind, a person can shield themselves from the cold by wearing sufficient clothing and will not be harmed.
Therefore, if somebody asked: “Is it permissible to join prayers just because of freezing weather?” Our reply would be, “It is not permissible unless the cold weather has winds that harm the people, or it has snow, because the falling of snow causes hardship.” But if someone decides to join prayers just because of the cold weather, then that is not permissible.
Whoever joins two prayers without a valid reason stated in Shariah is committing a sin, and the prayer they participate in with the earlier prayer doesn’t count; the person must repeat it. If they join the prayer together at the time of the later prayer, then the earlier prayer is not offered, and the person is sinning by doing that.”
(Liqa’ Al-Bab Al-Maftuh, 18/1)