Combining Prayers

By Mufti Ebrahim Desai


Q.) What is the correct ruling regarding joining the Zuhar and Asr prayer and also Maghrib and Isha, while travelling. I have seen lot of people doing it specially here in US, though the understanding I had was that it is not permissible in Hanafi Madhab, whereas it is OK in Sha'afi Madhab. If some one does join these salat while claiming to be Hanafi, would he be wrong? [Muqtada Husain Detroit, NY]

A.) According to the Hanafi, every Salaat must be performed in its respective time. Therefore, it is not permissible to perform two Salaats during one Salaat time. However, due to circumstances, outwardly joining is permissible. Outwardly, joining will be to perform, for example, Dhuhr Salaat in its last time first before Dhuhr time terminates and Asr in its first time as soon as Asr time commences.