Combining (jam') means praying two prayers together in the time of one: Dhuhr with Asr, or Maghrib with Isha. Fajr is never combined, and Asr is never combined with Maghrib. Combining is a separate concession from shortening. You can shorten without combining, and in some schools combine without shortening.
Early and late combining
There are two forms:
- Jam' taqdim (early): praying Asr straight after Dhuhr in Dhuhr's time, or Isha after Maghrib in Maghrib's time.
- Jam' ta'khir (late): delaying Dhuhr to pray it with Asr in Asr's time, or Maghrib with Isha in Isha's time.
The evidence includes the hadith of Mu'adh ibn Jabal that on the expedition to Tabuk the Prophet ﷺ combined Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha (Muslim), and reports from Anas and Ibn Umar about combining when in a hurry on a journey.
The schools' positions
Hanafi
Hanafis do not permit genuine combining, except at Arafah (Dhuhr and Asr) and Muzdalifah (Maghrib and Isha) during Hajj. They understand the travel reports as jam' suri, "apparent combining": praying the first prayer at the very end of its time and the second at the very start of its time, so they appear to be together while each is in its own time.
Shafi'i and Hanbali
Both permit early and late combining on a qualifying journey. The Shafi'is set conditions for early combining: praying them in order, intending to combine during the first prayer, and not leaving a long gap between them. The Hanbalis also allow combining for other needs, such as illness.
Maliki
Malikis permit combining for a traveller, particularly one who is on the move, with conditions on timing depending on when they set off and when they expect to arrive.
Salafi and Ahl-e-Hadith
These scholars permit combining while travelling, and many consider it best done only when there is a need, such as being on the road.
Shia Ja'fari
In Ja'fari fiqh, Dhuhr and Asr share a time, as do Maghrib and Isha, so combining is permitted at any time, whether travelling or at home. Praying each at its preferred time (fadhilah) earns extra reward.
Shortening and combining together
A traveller in the Shafi'i, Maliki or Hanbali schools might pray Dhuhr as two rak'ahs, then immediately Asr as two. For Maghrib and Isha combined, Maghrib is three and Isha two.
The calculator shows your school's combining rule alongside every result.