Can I Combine Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr Due To An Exam by Shaykh Ḥasan Ṣomālī

Question:

Answer:

A similar question was answered by Al-Shaykh Al-ʿAllāma Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ Al-‘Uthaymīn (رحمه الله تعالى), and he responded by saying,

“Joining two prayers that are permissible to combine, if there is a need to do so, is permissible under such circumstances”.

Therefore, it is allowed for an individual to combine al-ẓuhr and al-ʿaṣr, at the time of ẓuhr (Taqdīman), at the time of ʿaṣr (Ta’khīran). Likewise, it is permissible to combine between al-maghrib and al-ʿishā’, if there is a Ḥājah (a strong need) to do so, either at the time of al-maghrib (Taqdīman) or at the time of al-‘ishā’ (Ta’khīran).

The basis for this position of Shaykh Ibn Al-‘Uthaymīn (رحمه الله) and others from the scholars who are living and the scholars who have passed, is the authentic Ḥadīth of the Prophet ﷺ:

Narrated by Ibn ʿAbbās (رضى الله عنه) :
عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: جمع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بين الظهر والعصر والمغرب والعشاء بالمدينة في غير خوف ولا مطر. قال: قلت لابن عباس: لم فعل ذلك؟ قال: كي لا يحرج أمته

 
“The Prophet ﷺ combined between al-ẓuhr and al-‘asr, likewise he combined al-maghrib with al-‘ishā in Madīnah, and there was no fear, nor was there rain. When Ibn ʿAbbās was asked, ‘Why did the Prophet ﷺ do this?’ He ﷺ responded by saying that he did not want to place difficulty upon his nation.” [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim #33]

The scholars of the past, such as Al-Shawkānī (رحمه الله تعالى), said that this is allowed if there is a necessity or a strong need to do so, with the condition that this is not taken as a habit or a common practice, wallāhu aʿlam.