(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 Huzar (to pray the two Prayers together in one's own town) in which he has narrated four traditions from which three are from Ibn Abbas and one from Maaz 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 Ja'far Sadiq (a.s.) also mention this point.[^2] The narrators of praying two Prayers together are not limited to Ibn Abbas and Maaz ibn Jabal only. Tibrani says Abdullah ibn Masood said that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) allowed praying Noon and Afternoon Prayers and Evening and Night Prayers together, so that the Ummat may not have to bear undue hardships.[^3] The same has been narrated by Abdullah ibn Zubair.

He narrates that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) although he was not in traveling, prayed together so that his Ummat should not face hardship.[^4] This narration is from one of the many traditions of Ahle Sunnat and also in the exegesis of Qur’an that says to pray the Prayers separately is recommended and if we at any time realize that by performing this recommended itself 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. [^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 Previous…