Is the combination (Jam') of prayers during travel permissible?

Chapter on the Traveler's Prayer

Al-Mughni

Book of Prayer

Book 3 · Issue 2 · Bab 11

Open in Qurani

Primary text

The combination of the Dhuhr and Asr prayers, and the Maghrib and Isha prayers during travel, at the time of one of the two prayers, is permissible according to the majority of scholars. This view is held by Sa'id ibn Zayd, Sa'd, Usama, Mu'adh ibn Jabal, Abu Musa, Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar, Tawus, Mujahid, 'Ikrimah, Malik, al-Thawri, al-Shafi'i, Ishaq, Abu Thawr, and Ibn al-Mundhir. The evidence for this is the practice of Ibn Umar, who would combine Maghrib and Isha when travel was pressing, stating the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, did so when travel was pressing. Anas reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, would delay Dhuhr until the time of Asr and combine them if traveling before the sun declined, or pray Dhuhr before leaving if the sun had already declined. This is supported by the narration from Muslim indicating the Prophet, peace be upon him, would delay Dhuhr until Asr to combine them, and delay Maghrib until Isha to combine them until twilight disappeared.

Supporting text

A dissenting view, held by al-Hasan, Ibn Sirin, and the People of Opinion (Ahl al-Ra'y), maintains that combining prayers is only permissible on the Day of Arafah at Arafah and the night of Muzdalifah there. This is also one narration from Malik through Ibn al-Qasim, based on the argument that fixed prayer times are established by consistent, widespread narration (Tawatur) and cannot be abandoned based on a single report (Khabar Wahid).