How to Combine Maghrib and `Isha’ Prayers when Travelling

*Salaamun 'alaykum wa rahmat-ul-lahi wa barakātuh*

*How to Combine Maghrib and `Isha’ Prayers when Travelling*

Question:

*I was travelling and I wanted to join Maghrib and `Isha’ together. I reached the area where I live at the time of `Isha’, so I prayed `Isha’ with them, then I prayed Maghrib. Is what I did correct or not?*

Summary of answer

*If you are travelling and you prayed `Isha’ before Maghrib, your `Isha’ prayer is not valid because you offered it before Maghrib and offering the prayers in the correct order is a condition of combining prayer when travelling.*

_In the name of Allaah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allaah (ﷺ) ._

🎙️Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

*“It is stipulated that the prayers be done in the correct order, starting with the first one and then the second, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Pray as you have seen me pray.” And because Islamic teachings have explained the order of the times of prayer. But if the person forgets, or is unaware of the ruling, or comes to some people who are praying `Isha’, and he intended to put the prayers together at the time of the later prayer, then he prays `Isha’ with them, then he prays Maghrib, is the requirement to offer the prayers in the correct order waived in this case, or not?*

The most well-known view among our jurists (may Allah have mercy on them) is that it is not waived. Based on that, if someone did the second prayer before the first prayer by mistake, or out of ignorance, or to join the congregation, or for other reasons, then his joining the prayers together is not valid. So what must he do in this case?

*The answer is: the prayer that he offered first is not valid as an obligatory prayer, and he has to repeat it.*

For example: a man was intending to join the prayers together at the time of the later prayer, then he entered the mosque and found some people praying `Isha’, so he joined them with the intention of praying `Isha’, then when he had finished `Isha’ he prayed Maghrib. We say: His `Isha’ prayer is not valid, because he offered it before Maghrib, and offering the prayers in the correct order is a condition [of prayer being valid]. So he has to pray `Isha’ again, but his Maghrib is valid. When we say that it is not valid, we mean that it is not valid as an obligatory prayer that would fulfil the obligation, but it is regarded as a supererogatory prayer for which he will be rewarded." (Ash-Sharh Al-Mumti` 4/401-402)

And Allah knows best.

*May Allaah accept our ibaadat and forgive our shortcomings.*

_❞Keep Reminding, for Indeed the ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅᴇʀ ʙᴇɴᴇꜰɪᴛs ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇʀ ❝_

*Allaahu l-Musta'aan*