because mud and clay make it difficult for people to walk.
It is understood from his statement, “between the two night prayers,” that it is not permissible to combine the two daytime prayers for these reasons; this is the established position of the school. The stronger view, however, is that it is permissible to combine the two daytime prayers, as well as the two night prayers, for these reasons and others whenever hardship would result from not combining them, as indicated by the hadith of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him.
Third:
His statement, “and a severe, cold wind”: the author stipulates two conditions for the wind:
- It must be severe.
- It must be cold.
The apparent meaning of his words is that it need not occur on a dark night; rather, it is permissible to combine the prayers because of a severe, cold wind even on a moonlit night.
If it is asked: What is the criterion for severity and coldness?
The answer is that a severe wind means one that exceeds what is customary. As for the usual wind, it does not permit combining the prayers, even if it is cold. Coldness means that which causes hardship to people.
If it is asked: If the cold becomes severe without any wind, may the prayers be combined? We say: No, because a person can protect himself from severe cold without wind by wearing ample clothing. But when wind accompanies severe cold, it penetrates one’s clothing. Likewise, if there is a severe wind without cold, the prayers may not be combined, because severe winds without cold do not entail hardship. However, if it is assumed that such severe winds carry dust that affects a person and causes him hardship, then they