delays it until the period of necessity, thereby offering it within its time while nevertheless incurring sin.

The correct view is that consecutive performance is not a condition in any case, whether during the first prayer’s time or the second’s. The religious law sets no limit for this, and observing such a requirement defeats the purpose of the concession. It resembles the view of those who interpret combining prayers as merely performing them back to back: concluding the first with the salutation at the very end of its time and beginning the second with the opening declaration of Allah’s greatness at the very beginning of its time. A group of scholars, including followers of Abū Hanīfah and others, interpreted the Prophet’s combining of prayers in this way.

Observing this is exceedingly difficult and burdensome. A person would have to begin when only enough time remains for four units of prayer, or three in the case of Maghrib. He would also have to avoid prolonging the prayer, even though beginning with the intention of prolonging it is prescribed when the time allows. If, after beginning the prayer, he decides to prolong it or to wait for someone so that the latter can catch the bowing and join the congregational prayer, this would not be prescribed. He would have to strive to conclude with the salutation before the time expires.

It is well known that observing all this is exceedingly difficult, both to ascertain and to carry out. It also distracts the worshipper’s heart from the purpose of prayer. Combining prayers was prescribed as a concession and to relieve the Muslim community of hardship. How, then, could it be prescribed only under conditions of severe hardship and in a manner that defeats the purpose of prayer?

It is thus clear that when the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, delayed Zuhr and brought ʿAsr forward, or delayed Maghrib and brought ʿIshāʾ forward, he did so in a manner that brought ease and removed hardship for himself and his community. Nor did he insist that the first prayer must be concluded