Can the daily prayers (salat) be combined and performed together?

It is obligatory for every Muslim who meets certain conditions to perform the five daily prayers. Each prayer has been made obligatory to be performed within its prescribed time. As stated in the Qur’an: “Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.” (an-Nisā, 4/103). Therefore, under normal circumstances, each prayer must be performed at its appointed time. However, if there is a valid excuse, prayers may be combined (jam‘) and performed together.

“Jam‘,” which means “combining two prayers,” refers to performing the noon (zuhr) and afternoon (‘asr) prayers together during either the time of zuhr or ‘asr, and the sunset (maghrib) and night (‘isha) prayers together during either the time of maghrib or ‘isha.

According to the Hanafi school, combining prayers is only permitted for pilgrims. On the Day of ‘Arafah, at ‘Arafat, the ‘asr prayer is performed early together with the zuhr prayer (jam‘ taqdim). On the same day, the maghrib prayer is delayed and performed together with the ‘isha prayer at Muzdalifah (jam‘ ta’khir). Apart from this, it is not permissible to combine prayers. (Kāsānī, Badā’i‘, 1/127) In other schools of thought (though there are some differences among them), it is permissible to combine zuhr with ‘asr or maghrib with ‘isha by jam‘ taqdim or jam‘ ta’khir due to excuses such as travel, rain, or storm. One of the evidences for this view is the report from Ibn ‘Abbās: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) combined the zuhr and ‘asr prayers, and the maghrib and ‘isha prayers during the Tabuk expedition.” (Muslim, Salāt al-Musāfirīn, 51-53 [705-706]). The Hanafis interpret this and similar hadiths as referring to “apparent combining” (sūrī jam‘), meaning performing one prayer at the end of its time and the next at the beginning of its time, consecutively, thus only outwardly appearing as a combination. (Muwatta’, Salāt, 203 [Shaybānī Transmission, Chapter: 59]; Tahāwī, Sharh Ma‘ānī al-Āthār, 1/162 [978-980]; Ibn Rushd, Bidāyat al-Mujtahid, 1/173-174)

In cases of significant necessity, a Hanafi may also follow other schools and combine the mentioned prayers. For example, in situations such as being on a journey, coinciding with exam times, or when a doctor cannot perform the prayer on time during surgery, the zuhr and ‘asr, or maghrib and ‘isha prayers may be combined by jam‘ taqdim or jam‘ ta’khir due to necessity or need.

A person who combines prayers should perform them consecutively and in order; the sunnah prayers between the two obligatory prayers are not performed, and one should not engage in anything else in between. The obligatory parts of zuhr and ‘asr are performed consecutively during either the zuhr or ‘asr time; the obligatory parts of maghrib and ‘isha are performed consecutively during either the maghrib or ‘isha time, without interruption. The dawn (fajr) prayer cannot be combined with either the night (‘isha) or noon (zuhr) prayers, nor can ‘asr be combined with maghrib or ‘isha with fajr.

Source: T.C. Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu