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Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما
From the outset, it should be understood that there is a difference of opinion amongst the different schools of thought in regards to this issue. While other schools of thought permit combining prayers while travelling with certain conditions (and have their respective proofs for their positions), the Hanafi school of thought does not permit praying any salah outside of its stipulated time. The basis for this position is the verse of the Qur’an:
“Verily prayer for the believers has been made incumbent (and) its time has been stipulated)
[Surah al-Nisaa: 103]
However, it would be permitted to combine the prayers (in accordance to the Hanafi school of thought) while travelling in one of the two manners:
- One may pray one salah at the end of its prescribed time and pray the next salah at its beginning time. For example, if ‘Asr time starts at 3:00pm, one can pray Zuhr at 2:55pm and thereafter pray ‘Asr as soon as its time begins. Thus, one would not be praying any prayer outside of its prescribed time nor would they be required to make multiple stops.
- Some ‘ulama have mentioned another method of combining prayers during travel. It would be permissible for one to combine Zuhr and ‘Asr prayer between the first and second shadow and to combine Maghrib and ‘Isha prayer between the red and white twilight. For example, if the first shadow is at 3:00pm and the second shadow as at 3:30pm, it would be permissible to pray both Zuhr and ‘Asr between 3:00pm-3:30pm. Similarly, one would be able to combine Maghrib and ‘Isha in the same manner between the red and white twilight (15 and 18 degrees respectively).
والله اعلم
Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows best.
Approved by Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani