then ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān at the beginning of his caliphate. Later, he prayed four units for reasons he considered warranted doing so. People differed over his decision: some agreed with him, while others disagreed.

During the Farewell Pilgrimage, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, combined prayers only at ‘Arafah and Muzdalifah. On his other journeys, however, when pressing on with his journey, he would delay the sunset prayer until after the time for the night prayer had begun, then perform the two together. He would also delay the noon prayer until the time of the afternoon prayer, then perform the two together.

Thus, the correct scholarly view is that a traveller may shorten prayers whether or not he has intended to shorten them. Likewise, when combining prayers is permissible, he may combine them whether or not he intended to do so when offering the first prayer. When the Companions prayed behind the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, at ‘Arafah—two units for the noon prayer, followed by two units for the afternoon prayer—he did not instruct them at the beginning of the noon prayer to intend to combine the prayers. Nor did they know that he would combine them, since he had not done so on any journey other than that one. He did not instruct anyone praying behind him, whether from Mecca or elsewhere, to pray separately from him, either by performing each prayer as four units or by delaying the afternoon prayer. Rather, they offered it with him.

The scholars agree that shortening prayers while travelling is permissible. They also agree that it is preferable, apart from an isolated opinion held by some. Likewise, they agree that performing each prayer at its appointed time while travelling is preferable when there is no reason calling for combining them, apart from an isolated opinion held by some.