Fatwa ID: 07629

 

 

Answered by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat

 

Question:

 

I know that combining salahs is not allowed as per hanafi fiqh rather to combine salah by delaying the prayer time to the end of its time and then the next salah just after it when the next salah time enters is allowed.

 

I have a few questions regarding these:

 

1)what time do we consider the end for the zuhar time (shafi time or hanafi time) (if we want to combine zuhar and asr),

 

2)what time do we consider the end for the maghirb time, is it as per 18 degree or 15 degree (if we want to combine magrib and esha)

 

3)what time do we consider the end for fajr time (18 degree or 15 degree)(if we want to combine fajr and esha)

 

4)Is the combining of hanafi method for salah allowed only while travelling or it can be done for any other reasons such as work related etc, as we are apparently reading the prayer in time only.

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

In Hanafi Fiqh, combining prayers (Jam’ Bayn al-Salatayn) in the manner allowed in other schools (like Shafi’i) is generally not permitted. However, there is a method known as Jam’ Suri or “apparent combining,” which is done by praying the first prayer at its end time and the next prayer immediately as its time begins. This method is typically applied in certain circumstances, such as travel or genuine hardship, but each scenario is governed by specific rulings.

 

1. In Hanafi Fiqh, the end time for Dhuhr is when the shadow of an object becomes twice its length, plus the shadow at noon (Zawal). This is different from the Shafi’i time, where Dhuhr ends when the shadow is equal to the object’s length.¹

 

Therefore, for Jam’ Suri, you would consider the end time for Dhuhr according to the Hanafi method (twice the length of the shadow).

 

 

2. End Time for Maghrib if Combining with Isha

 

The end time for Maghrib in the Hanafi school is until the disappearance of the twilight (redness in the horizon). The calculation of twilight disappearance is typically done based on either 18 degrees or 15 degrees below the horizon.

 

Hanafi scholars generally follow the 18-degree opinion for the end time of Maghrib.²

 

Thus, for the purpose of Jam’ Suri, you would consider Maghrib’s end time as when the twilight disappears, calculated at 18 degrees.

 

 

3. End Time for Fajr (Dawn Prayer)

 

The time for Fajr ends at sunrise. The beginning of Fajr time (dawn) is calculated when the light first appears horizontally on the horizon, also calculated using either 18 degrees or 15 degrees.

 

Hanafi scholars generally adhere to the 18-degree calculation for determining the start of Fajr, meaning that the time for Fajr ends just before sunrise.³

 

Therefore, for Jam’ Suri purposes, consider the Fajr end time according to the 18-degree calculation.

 

 

4. Applicability of Jam’ Suri Beyond Travel

 

The method of Jam’ Suri (apparent combining) is primarily allowed during travel according to Hanafi Fiqh. However, some Hanafi scholars have extended this permission to other cases of genuine hardship, such as work or other unavoidable circumstances, provided that the prayers are performed within their respective times.⁴

 

This indicates that while travel is the primary condition, genuine hardships like work constraints could be considered, but they should not be a routine practice.

 

To make it easier to understand:

 

1. End Time for Dhuhr (Zuhr): Follow the Hanafi method, where Dhuhr ends when the shadow of an object is twice its length, plus the shadow at noon.
2. End Time for Maghrib: Use the 18-degree calculation, meaning Maghrib ends when the red twilight disappears.
3. End Time for Fajr: Use the 18-degree calculation, with Fajr ending just before sunrise.
4. Applicability of Jam’ Suri: Primarily allowed during travel but may be extended to cases of genuine hardship like work, though it should not be done routinely.

 

 

 

Only Allah knows best

Written by Alimah Shireen Mangera-Badat

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

1 Al-Hidayah (الهداية) by Al-Marghinani: “ووقت العصر من حين يصير ظل كل شيء مثليه”

(Vol. 1, pg. 66)

 

 

2 Radd al-Muhtar ala al-Dur al-Mukhtar (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)

“ووقت العشاء يدخل بمغيب الشفق الأحمر”(Vol. 1, pg. 374)

 

 

3 Fath al-Qadir (فتح القدير) “وقت الصبح ما لم تطلع الشمس”

(Vol. 1, pg. 163)

 

 

4 Al-Durr al-Mukhtar (الدر المختار) “ولا يصح الجمع إلا في السفر، أو للمرض أو غيره من الأعذار”