Ruling on combining all five prayers when travelling
Is it permissible tocombine all the five prayers, at the start of a journey, if you have an attention to travel a long distance requiring very long hours of traveling. If not, then how many prayers can be combined at each time.
May Allah accept your effort in helping your muslim brothers to better understand their religion.
Praise be to Allaah.
It is not permissible to combine all five prayers at one time, even if it is because of travelling. Indeed, it is not permissible to combine three prayers, so it is not correct to combine Maghrib, ‘Isha’ and Fajr, for example. What is permitted is to combine Zuhr and ‘Asr, and Maghrib and ‘Isha’, but Fajr cannot be combined with any other prayer. The reason for this is that each one of the five prayers has its appointed time which is clearly defined, and which should be adhered to as it says in the Qur’aan:
“… Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours.”
[al-Nisa’ 4:103]
This is also indicated by the hadeeth in which Jibreel (peace be upon him) defined the times of each prayer and explained them to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
It was not reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) combined all five prayers, only that he combined Zuhr and ‘Asr, and Maghrib and ‘Isha’. Acts of worship are based on reports, and combining prayers is an issue that has to do with acts of worship, so we should adhere to what it says in the texts and not try to take the matter any further. Ibn Daqeeq al-‘Eed reported scholarly consensus on this issue, as did Ibn Hubayrah. Ibn Hajar al-Haythami said: “ ‘Asr should not be combined with Maghrib, nor ‘Isha’ with Subh (Fajr), ‘Asr can only be combined with Zuhr, in accordance with what was reported.”
Al-Raafi’i (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “It is not permitted to combine Salaat al-Subh with any other prayer, or to combine ‘Asr and Maghrib, because no such thing was reported from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).”
(
Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar agreed with him in Talkhees al-Habeer, 4/427).Al-Nawawi said
: “It is not permitted to combine Subh with any other prayer, or to combine ‘Asr with Maghrib.”And Allaah knows best
.