The Description of Combining Two Salaah
The scholars differ regarding description of conmbinig two Salah, among them are those who regard it as Al-Jamu' Al-Haqeeqee; (that is:) putting forward one of the two prayers to another time or delay it (till another time, like offering Zuhr and Asr in the time of Zuhr or Zuhr and Asr in the time of Asr). Among them are those who regard it as Al-Jamu' As-Sooree: (that is:) delaying the first salah till its last period with and hastening to offer the second salah at its initial period.
It is appropriate to select the correct position to affirm the viewpoints on this issue;
The First Issue: Combining between two prayer is ease, and the ease (Ar-Rukhsah) according to the scholars of Usool, is an established ruling opposing the evidence because of excuse.
The Second Issue: This ease (Ar-Rukhsah) is charged with repelling harm and hardship.
Upon these the author says:
Al-Haafidh Al-'Iraaqee said (Tarh At-Tathreeb vol. 3 p.127): Combining prayers ia ease but if it is upon what we have mentioned (Al-Jamu' As-Sooree), it will be extremely restricted and will be so hard to offer each prayer on its time; because offering salah on its time is more wide than noticing the margin of the two times، till nothing will remain from the time of the first (salah) except a portion to observe it.
An-Nawawee qualified Al-Jamu' As-Sooree (Sharh Muslim vol. 2 p. 334) and Shaykh Ibn Baaz (Ta'leeq Ala Fatih Al-Baaree vol.2 p.24) said: This kind of combination is weak.
Intention:
It is not a precondition in the first salah, because it is upon its condition and in its time, nothing occurs to it. Only the second prayer, that will be put forward to the time of the first (salah) requires having intention during it. This is regarding Jamu' at-Taqdeem (combination between the two salah at the time of the initial salah), but during Jamu' at-Ta'kheer it will be vice versa.
As-Shaykh Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (Majmoo' Al-Fataawah vol.24 p. 50) said: When the Prophet sallaLlaahu 'alahy wa sallam prayed with his companions, combining and reducing it, he did not order anyone from them to have intention of jamu' and qasr.
Al-Haafidh Ibn Hajar (Al-Fat'h vol. 1 p. 18) said: ... The preponderance from insight (to the textual evidence) is, it does not require intention.
Nearness and Furtherness of the Masjid
Some of the scholars of Islamic Jurisprudence prohibited whoever leaves near the mosque ro combine between two salah! They only allow this for who is far!!
In Al-Bayaan wat Tahseel vol. 1 pp. 403-404, Ibn Rushd said:
Imaam Malik was asked about the people, that the house of some of them are near the mosque, whenever they go out from it, they will enter the mosque at its time, and when they go out of the mosque to their house is the same. And amongst them, there are those whose houses are far from the mosque. Do you opine that, they (both of them) should combine between two prayers?
He (Al-Imaam Maalik) said: I don't see people, if they combine between two prayers, except the neighbor and the far-flung are the same, (and) they will (both) combine between two salah together.
Ibn Rushd commented on this statement: This is what I say, because if the combination (between the two salahs) is allowed due to the hardship that includes the far-flung, it also includes the neighbor. It is not right for them to single themselves out from them and offer each prayer at its time congregationally.Because this cums dividing the congregation and yet not abandoning the salah in congregation.
This is the choice of Al-Imaam Ash-Shaaf'ee (Al-Umm vol.1 p.95).
The next issue is, the ruling of al Masbooq during combination between two prayer.
May the peace and blessing be upon the prophet sallaLlaahu alayhi wa sallam, his household and his companions. Aameen.
