to pray two Prayers together

The proof regarding to pray two Prayers together is the traditions from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (‘a) that Shaykh Hurre Aameli has collected in his book.

We should also keep in mind that only Shia narrators have not only narrated traditions, but Ahle Sunnat narrators have also narrated that it is allowed to pray two Prayers together (and that also if there is no legal excuse.) They have narrated from the Holy Prophet (‘s) in their authentic books by Ibne Abbas, Maaz Ibne Jabal, Abdullah Ibne Masood and Abdullah Ibne Umar approximately ten traditions, all of which cannot be quoted in full but we just mention some of them:

 (1) The famous narrator of Sunni world, Ahmad bin Hanbal writes in his famous book Musnad from Ibne Abbas:

“The Holy Prophet (‘s) used to pray Noon and Afternoon Prayers, and in the same way Evening and Night Prayers without the fear of enemy or without the excuse of travel.”

 (2) Then again narrates this tradition from Jabir bin Zaid who narrated from Ibne Abbas that, “I used to pray the Eight rakats of Noon and Afternoon Prayers or Seven rakats of Evening and Night Prayers together with the Holy Prophet (‘s). And this tradition has been narrated by Ibne Abbas with different words.

 (3) Again he narrates from Abdullah Shaqiq: “One day Ibne Abbas was delivering a sermon to the people and his speech was so long that the stars in the sky appeared. A man Bani Tamim tribe got up and objected to him that it was time for Evening Prayers and if the speech continues the time of Evening Prayers and if the speech continued the time of Evening Prayers will pass away. Ibne Abbas told that person: “I know much more about traditions and practice of the Holy Prophet (‘s) than you. I have seen that Holy Prophet (‘s) pray Noon and Afternoon Prayers together and Evening and Night Prayers together.” The narrator says that I doubted about this and spoke to Abu Huraira who certified the saying of Ibne Abbas.

 (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 Ibne Abbas and one from Maaz ibn Jabal and the gist of the four traditions is the same as above.[12] 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) also mention this point.[13]

The narrators of praying two Prayers together is not limited to Ibne Abbas and Maaz ibn Jabal only. Tibrani says Abdullah ibn Masood said that the Holy Prophet (‘s) allowed praying Noon and Afternoon Prayers and Evening and Night Prayers together, so that the Ummat may not have to bear undue hardships.[14]

The same has been narrated by Abdullah ibn Zubair. He narrates that the Holy Prophet (‘s) although he was not in traveling, prayed together so that his Ummat should not face hardship.[15]

This narration is from one of the many traditions of Ahle Sunnat and also in the exegesis of Quran 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.

[12] Sahih Muslim, Vol. 2. p. 151