and soil his garments, which is a greater harm than mere dampness. Since rain is accepted as a valid excuse for missing Jumuʿah and congregational prayers, the two situations are therefore treated as entailing the same hardship that the Law takes into account. (1)

The same ruling applies when there is a fierce wind on a cold, dark night: it is permissible to combine the prayers because of the hardship involved. (2)

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about combining the two evening prayers—Maghrib and ʿIshāʾ—when it is raining. Is the concession also granted in cases of severe cold or a strong wind, or is it limited to rain alone? He answered:

“Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. It is permissible to combine the two evening prayers because of rain, a bitterly cold and violent wind, or deep mud. This is the sounder of the two scholarly views, and it is the apparent position of Ahmad, Mālik, and others. Allah knows best.” (3)

He then said, “That is preferable to their praying in their homes; indeed, for them to forgo combining while praying indoors is an innovation that opposes the Sunnah, for the Sunnah is that the prayers be offered…"