Hadith Text

Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) started the journey before noon, he used to delay the Zuhr prayer till the time for the `Asr prayer and then he would dismount and pray them together; and whenever the sun declined before he started the journey he used to offer the Zuhr prayer and then ride (for the journey).

Source Reference

Sahih al-Bukhari 1111 - Shortening the Prayers (At-Taqseer)

Scholarly Commentary

This noble hadith establishes the prophetic practice of combining prayers during travel. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) demonstrated two scenarios: when journey begins before midday, he would combine Zuhr and Asr by delaying Zuhr until Asr time (jam' ta'khir). When journey begins after midday, he would pray Zuhr first then travel (indicating jam' taqdim).

This ruling is based on the principle of easing difficulty in worship during travel (rukhsah). The combination is permitted whether one is actually moving or temporarily halted. Scholars differ on whether combining requires shortening prayers - the predominant view is that combining is separate from shortening.

The wisdom behind this practice includes preserving the quality of prayer while traveling, maintaining devotion without hardship, and ensuring prayers are performed with proper concentration and physical comfort rather than in moving conditions.

Legal Rulings Derived

Combining prayers is permissible for travelers without requiring any specific excuse beyond the journey itself.

The method of combination depends on timing of departure relative to midday.

This concession applies to all obligatory prayers that have fixed times, demonstrating Islam's flexibility and consideration for practical circumstances.