This, then, falls under his saying, peace and blessings be upon him: “Pray as you have seen me pray.” (1)

His statement, “between the two daytime prayers,” refers to the noon and afternoon prayers. They are called “the two daytime prayers” by way of predominance, just as the sun and moon are called “the two moons,” and Abu Bakr and Umar are called “the two Umars.”

His statement, “between the two night prayers,” refers to the sunset and night prayers. This too is by way of predominance, like “the two daytime prayers.”

His statement, “at the time of either one of them,” means at the time of the first or the second.

Know that when combining is permissible, the two prayer-times become a single time. Thus, if you wish, you may combine them at the time of the first prayer, at the time of the second, or at any time between them. As for what some common people imagine—that the prayers may only be combined at the end of the noon prayer’s time and the beginning of the afternoon prayer’s time, or at the end of the sunset prayer’s time and the beginning of the night prayer’s time—this has no basis.

His statement, “during a journey that permits shortening the prayer”: this is one of the reasons that permit combining, namely, a journey in which the prayer may be shortened. When the scholars say, “during a journey that permits shortening,” they mean a journey in which the prayer may be shortened, thereby excluding a journey in which it may not be shortened. The discussion of such a journey has preceded: whether it is restricted to a specified distance or determined by customary practice. (2)

His statement, “during a journey that permits shortening,” apparently indicates that combining is permissible