As for shortening the prayer: so long as their journey covers the shortening distance—eighty kilometres (50 mi) or more—it is permissible for them to shorten, because shortening is the Sunnah for a traveller, while combining is merely allowed when there is a need.

Question: Is not the wisdom behind shortening to gain extra time while travelling?

Answer: Allah, exalted be He, legislated shortening for the traveller and attached the ruling to the very fact of travelling. Whenever a person is on a journey, shortening is prescribed.

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Mentioning the Rightly Guided Caliphs in the Friday sermon

Question: Is it obligatory or not to mention the four Rightly Guided Caliphs in the Friday khutbah?

Answer: Invoking Allah’s pleasure upon the Rightly Guided Caliphs during the Friday sermon is the practice of the Muslims. Part of the creed of the people of the Sunna and the community is to seek Allah’s pleasure for all the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, to love them, and to show loyalty to them—especially the four Caliphs because of their outstanding merit and precedence in Islam. Doing so also opposes the Rāfiḍah—may Allah disgrace them—who revile the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, particularly the Rightly Guided Caliphs. Therefore, the people of the Sunna and the community invoke Allah’s pleasure upon them in the Friday sermon, both in opposition to the Rāfiḍah and in fulfilment of the verse:

“Those who came after them say, ‘Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and do not place in our hearts any rancour toward those who believe. Our Lord, You are indeed Most Kind, Most Merciful.’” (al-Hashr 59:10).