(4) The famous narrator Muslim ibn Hajjaj al-Qashiri (died...

(4) The famous narrator Muslim ibn Hajjaj al-Qashiri (died in 261 Hijri) has written in his book Jama Prayers dar Hazar (to pray the two Prayers together in ones own town) in which he has narrated four traditions from which three are from Ibn Abbas and one from Muaath ibn Jabal and the gist of the four traditions is the same as above.[1] And in these traditions a new point is mentioned that when the narrator asks the reason for joining two Prayers, he answered: He (the Prophet ) did not want to put his followers into hardship.

This reason has also been narrated in Shia traditions. Traditions narrated from Imam Jafar Sadiq (a.s.) also mention this point.[2] The narrators of praying two Prayers together are not limited to Ibn Abbas and Muaath ibn Jabal only.

al-Tabaraniy says that Abdullah ibn Masood said that the Holy Prophet (a.s.) allowed praying Noon and Afternoon Prayers and Evening and Night Prayers together, so that the Ummah may not have to bear undue hardships.[3] The same has been narrated by Abdullah ibn Zubair.

He narrates that the Holy Prophet (a.s.) although he was not in traveling, prayed together so that his Ummah should not face hardship.[4] This narration is from one of the many traditions of the Sunnis and also in the exegesis of Quran that says to pray the Prayers separately is recommended and if we at any time [1] Sahih Muslim, Vol. 2. p. 151 ** [2]** Wasailush Shia, Kitabus Salaat, Chapter of Time, 32, Tradition nos. 2,3,4,7. [3] Sharh Muwatta of Zarqani, pg. 263 ** [4]** Kanzul Ummal pg.

242 realize that by performing this recommended is going to affect the performance of the worship itself then according to the guidance of the Holy Prophet we can leave it and pray two Prayers together. Life in the present age in many parts of the world has become such that to perform this Recommended act has become difficult and many times its result is that some people are unable to perform the Prayers.

In such circumstances one can take the benefit from the guidance of Holy Prophet and for performing more important work one can pray two prayers together. The view of many Sunni jurisprudents is the same, but because of some reasons, they remain away from this view. Previous…