Shortening the Prayers (At-Taqseer) - Sahih al-Bukhari 1106

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to offer the Maghrib and `Isha' prayers together whenever he was in a hurry on a journey.

Commentary on the Permissibility of Prayer Combination

This noble hadith establishes the legal permission (rukhṣah) for combining Maghrib and Isha prayers during travel when circumstances necessitate haste. The scholars of jurisprudence have differed regarding the precise conditions and nature of this combination.

Imam al-Shafi'i and the majority of scholars hold that this refers to jam' al-sūrī (apparent combination), where one prayer is performed immediately after the other without the time of the second prayer having entered. However, Imam Malik and others maintain it refers to jam' al-ḥaqīqī (true combination), where both prayers are performed within the time of one of them.

Conditions and Wisdom of Combination

The condition of "being in a hurry" indicates that mere travel alone does not suffice; there must be an additional factor causing difficulty or hardship. This reflects the Islamic principle of easing religious obligations during times of genuine need.

The wisdom behind this concession includes: relieving the ummah from hardship, facilitating worship during difficult circumstances, and demonstrating the flexibility and practicality of Islamic legislation. The Prophet's practice serves as a perpetual sunnah for travelers facing similar conditions.

Scholarly Consensus and Application

There is consensus among all schools of thought that combining prayers during travel is permissible, though they differ in details regarding the required distance, duration, and specific conditions. The Hanafi school is more restrictive, while the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools offer broader permissions.

This hadith particularly emphasizes that combination is not limited to shortening prayers (qaṣr) but represents a separate concession. A traveler may thus combine without shortening, or shorten without combining, depending on their specific circumstances and the school they follow.