The first view is the stronger one, and whoever follows either of the two opinions should not be reproached. (1)

He (may Allah have mercy on him) also said: “The first view is the correct one, as attested by the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. He used to shorten the prayer for his Companions without telling them beforehand that he intended to shorten it, nor did he command them to formulate an intention for shortening… In the same way, when he combined two prayers he did not inform them of it before beginning; they only realised he was combining after he had completed the first prayer. This shows that combining likewise does not require an intention at the start of the first prayer.” (2)

He further said: “When the Prophet ﷺ led his Companions in prayers that were both combined and shortened, he never instructed any of them to intend the combination or the shortening. He left Madinah for Makkah praying two units (rakʿahs) without combining; then at ʿArafah he led them in the noon prayer without informing them that he meant to perform the afternoon prayer immediately afterwards, yet he then led them in the afternoon prayer—and they had formed no intention to combine. This is combining at the earlier time. Likewise, when he departed from Madinah—”