Ruling: It is a permissible dispensation (rukhsa) to join prayers while traveling.
When to begin: You may begin joining once you exit your city limits on the way to a traveling distance.
Condition: It must not be a trip to commit a sinful act.
How to do it: You can pray Dhuhr and ‘Asr together in either time. Likewise, Maghrib and ‘Isha in either time. You salam out of the first prayer and immediately stand to call the iqama for the next prayer.
Example 1: You leave your home in Liverpool in the morning before Dhuhr comes in to attend a program in London. You take a lunch break in Dhuhr time. You can pray Dhuhr and ‘Asr right then and there as two raka’s Dhuhr and two rak’as ‘Asr.
Example 2: Based on the above example, you do not have to pray in your lunch break. You can also wait until you arrive at your destination then pray Dhuhr and ‘Asr again as two rak’as Dhuhr then two rak’as ‘Asr.
Example 3: On the way back home, you leave London before Maghrib enters and arrive in ‘Isha time. You pray Maghrib with ‘Isha (three rak’as Maghrib then four raka’s ‘Isha) upon arrival home. (Because you arrived home before Fajr, you owe the full four rak’as of ‘Isha.)
Written by: Rami Nsour
Study Maliki fiqh Essentials and Advanced at Arkview.org.