Combining Salaah
QUESTION:
The majority of the four Madhaa’ib rule in favour of combining Salaah while travelling, with the exception of the Hanafi Madhab. Considering that all four Madhaa’ib are on Haqq, why can’t I join my Zuhr and Asr Salaah while travelling? I came across a Hadith which mentioned that Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam combined his Salaah although he was not travelling, neither was he in fear, nor was it raining. Does this imply that the other Madhaa’ib are incorrect?
ANSWER:
It is important to note that four Imaams (namely Imaam Abu Hanifah, Imaam Shafi, Imaam Malik and Imaam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal Rahimahumullah) all deduced Masaa’il differently. They deduced Masaa’il based on their understanding and evidences. Therefore, with regards to joining Salaah, Imaam Abu Hanifah Rahimahullah understood the Mas’ala differently from the other three Imaams. He gave the ruling that it is not allowed to combine two Salaah in the timing of one Salaah, based on various verses in the Quraan Sharif. Similarly, based on the Ahaadith that mention combining Salaah, the literal meaning of “combining” in one time is not inferred. Rather, it means that the first Salaah is delayed to the latest time of the Salaah, and the second Salaah is performed as soon as the time enters. Therefore, it is only permissible to join Salaah in this manner.
With regards to whether the other Imaams are wrong or not, we say that according to our Madhab, they have made an error, but there is a possibility of them being correct.
(ولا جمع بين فرضين في وقت بعذر) سفر ومطر خلافا للشافعي, وما رواه محمول على الجمع فعلا, لا وقتا (فإن جمع فسد لو قدم) الفرض على وقته (وحرم لو عكس) أي أخره عنه (وإن صح) بطريق القضاء (إلا لحاج بعرفة ومزدلفة) كما سيجئ.
(الدر المختار مع رد المحتار 1/381-382)
(قَوْلُهُ:َمحْمُولٌ إلَخْ) أَيْ مَا رَوَاهُ مِمَّا يَدُلُّ عَلَى التَّأْخِيرِ مَحْمُولٌ عَلَى الْجَمْعِ فِعْلًا لَا وَقْتًا: أَيْ فِعْلُ الْأُولَى فِي آخِرِ وَقْتِهَا وَالثَّانِيَةِ فِي أَوَّلِ وَقْتِهَا…وَقَالَ أَبُو دَاوُد: لَيْسَ فِي تَقْدِيمِ الْوَقْتِ حَدِيثٌ قَائِمٌ, وَقَدْ أَنْكَرَتْ عَائِشَةُ عَلَى مَنْ يَقُولُ بِالْجَمْعِ فِي وَقْتٍ وَاحِدٍ. وَفِي الصَّحِيحَيْنِ ((عَنْ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَاَلَّذِي لَا إلَهَ غَيْرُهُ مَا صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَلَاةً قَطُّ إلَّا لِوَقْتِهَا إلَّا صَلَاتَيْنِ جَمَعَ بَيْنَ الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ بِعَرَفَةَ, وَبَيْنَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ بِجَمْعٍ)) وَيَكْفِي فِي ذَلِكَ النُّصُوصُ الْوَارِدَةُ بِتَعْيِينِ الْأَوْقَاتِ مِنْ الْآيَاتِ وَالْأَخْبَارِ, وَتَمَامُ ذَلِكَ فِي الْمُطَوَّلَاتِ كَالزَّيْلَعِيِّ وَشَرْحِ الْمُنْيَةِ.
(رد المحتار على الدر المختار 1/382)
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Muhammad Isa Ali
Date: 26 Rajab 1447 / 16 January 2026
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb