could not lawfully be set aside. Yet once the authenticity of combining while encamped has been proven, acting upon it is preferable, for another text establishes permissibility in a different circumstance—namely, while actually on the march. The presence of that evidence cancels the force of the descriptive condition, and the implicit meaning drawn from this report cannot be pitted against the explicit wording of that proof, because the latter’s direct indication of permissibility in its specific context carries greater weight.” End quote.
- This and other narrations show that combining is limited to pairing the noon prayer with the afternoon prayer, and the sunset prayer with the night prayer; the dawn prayer is never combined with anything.
Chapter: Shortening the Prayer on a Journey
Shortening applies solely to the four-cycle prayers—noon, afternoon, and night. Ibn al-Munadhdhir recorded consensus that there is no shortening for the sunset or dawn prayers.
Its only cause is travel, for it is one of the concessions legislated as a mercy to, and consideration for, the traveller.
ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUmar, may Allah be pleased with them both, said: “I accompanied the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he never prayed more than two rakʿahs while travelling; the same was true of Abu Bakr, ʿUmar, and ʿUthman.” (1)
Overall meaning
ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUmar relates that he travelled with the Prophet ﷺ, and likewise accompanied Abu Bakr, ʿUmar, and ʿUthman on their journeys. Each of them shortened the four-cycle prayers to two rakʿahs and did not exceed that number.
Scholarly disagreement
The jurists have differed: is shortening obligatory, or merely a concession whose performance is recommended? The three imams—Mālik, al-Shāfiʿī, and Aḥmad—held that performing the prayer in full is permissible, though shortening is preferable.
Abū Ḥanīfah deemed shortening obligatory, a view championed by Ibn Ḥazm, who said: “The traveller’s prescribed prayer is two rakʿahs.”
Those who require shortening cite the Prophet’s consistent practice during all his journeys. The majority respond that practice alone does not prove obligation.