and then sleep, so that he may wake up halfway through the night to resume his journey. In this case, and in similar situations, he is allowed to combine the prayers. As for a traveller who stays for several days in a village or a town and, during that time, lives as one of the townspeople: although he is still entitled to shorten the prayers because he is travelling, he should not combine them. (1)

Evidence that a traveller may combine the two prayers when necessity arises while encamped on the road is also drawn from the ḥadith of Abū Juḥayfa (may Allah be pleased with him). He reported that he came to the Prophet ﷺ when the Prophet was camped at al-Abṭaḥ outside Mecca during the Farewell Pilgrimage, in a red leather tent. Abū Juḥayfa said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came out at the time of the intense midday heat wearing a red mantle, performed ablution, and Bilāl gave the call to prayer. A spear was then planted for him; he stepped forward and, on the plain, led us in Ẓuhr—two rakʿahs—and ʿAṣr—two rakʿahs …” (2)

Al-Nawawī (may Allah have mercy on him) commented: “This report is proof for shortening and combining during travel, and it shows that the preferable course for one who intends to combine …”