Question:
Assalamualaikum ustaz. I have a question. Is it permissible to perform qasar prayer without jamak? Hope for an explanation from you.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wbt.wrt,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Qasar prayer is a facilitation specifically for those who are travelling. This is in accordance with the statement of Allah SWT:
وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَن يَفْتِنَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ ۚ
“And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you.”
Surah al-Nisa’ (101)
It is the same for jamak, it is also a facilitation given in certain situations. This is based on a statement Ibnu Umar. He said:
إذا جدبه السير جمع بين المغرب والعشاء بعد ما يغيب الشفق
“When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was in a state of hurry on a journey, he combined the sunset and 'Isha' prayers when the twilight had disappeared.”
Musnad Ahmad (5163)
Coming back to the question, there is no issue to qasar (shorten) a prayer without jamak. The reason is, shortening prayer during travels is sunnah muakkad. This is according to a narration of the Prophet PBUH where the Prophet PBUH qasar his prayer when he was travelling. Among the hadith is a hadith narrated by Anas bin Malik: He said:
خَرَجْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ الْمَدِينَةِ إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَكَانَ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ حَتَّى رَجَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ
"We travelled with the Prophet (ﷺ) from Medina to Mecca and offered two rak`at (for every prayer) till we returned to Medina."
Sahih al-Bukhari (1081)
In another narration, Ibnu Umar said:
صَحِبْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَكَانَ لَا يَزِيدُ فِي السَّفَرِ عَلَى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَأَبَا بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ كَذَلِكَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ
“I accompanied Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and he never offered more than two rak`at during the journey. Abu Bakr, `Umar and `Uthman used to do the same.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (1102)
As for jamak for prayer, it is permissible. The reason is, there are several narrations that state the Prophet PBUH would sometimes not jamak his prayers during his travels. One of the narrations is as stated by Ibnu Abbas:
صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- الظُّهْرَ وَالْعَصْرَ جَمِيعًا وَالْمَغْرِبَ وَالْعِشَاءَ جَمِيعًا فِى غَيْرِ خَوْفٍ وَلاَ سَفَرٍ
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed the noon and afternoon prayers together, and the sunset and Isha' prayers together without being in a state of fear or in a state of journey.”
Sahih Muslim (1662)
This shows that sometimes the Prophet PBUH would not jamak his prayers during his travels. Imam al-Nawawi cited the opinion of Imam al-Ghazali, he said:
“Imam al-Ghazali stated in al-Basit and al-Mutawalli also stated in al-Tatimmah, the prioritized is leaving jamak and pray in its time. There are no differing opinions on the opinion that it is prioritized to leave jamak. This is different from qasar.” (Refer Al-Majmu’ Syarh Al-Muhazzab, 4/378)
As a conclusion, there is no issue for a person who wants to qasar his prayer without jamak. However, if his time is limited, then it is best to jamak his prayer to make it easier and not burden himself.
May Allah SWT give us understanding in His religion. Wallahua’lam.