What is the ruling if the Maghrib prayer is performed before reaching Muzdalifah without combining it with Isha?
Chapter on the Description of Hajj
Al-Mughni
Book of Hajj
Primary text
If someone prays Maghrib before arriving at Muzdalifah and does not combine it with Isha, they have contravened the Sunnah, but their prayer remains valid. This view is held by Al-Attah, Urwah, Al-Qasim bin Muhammad, Sa'id bin Jubayr, Malik, Al-Shafi'i, Ishaq, Abu Thawr, Abu Yusuf, and Ibn Al-Mundhir.
Supporting text
Abu Hanifah and Al-Thawri hold that such a prayer is not sufficient because the Prophet combined the two prayers, making it a ritual act (nusuk), following the principle, 'Take your rites from me.' The counter-argument is that any two prayers that allow joining also allow separation, like Dhuhr and Asr at Arafat, thus the Prophet's action is interpreted as being the best and most preferable act to avoid interrupting his journey, and their reasoning invalidates the ruling on joining at Arafat.