Question:
Assalamualaikum wrm.wbt.,
I have a question. What is the ruling if a person performs qasar without jamak? Hope for an explanation from ustaz.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wrm. wbt.
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the 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 is a specific facilitation for a traveller. 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)
Likewise, jamak is facilitation given in certain situations. This is according to a statement of Ibnu Umar. He said:
إذا جدبه السير جمع بين المغرب والعشاء بعد ما يغيب الشفق
“The Messenger of Allah PBUH when he went on a travel, he would perform jamak for Maghrib and Isyak after the twilight has disappeared.”
Narrated by Imam Ahmad (5163) in his Musnad
Coming back to the question presented, there is no issue if a person performs qaasr without jamak. The reason is performing qasar during travels is sunnah muakkad. This is according to the numerous narrations which state that the Prophet PBUH performed qasr during his travels. Among the hadiths 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 went from al-Madinah to Makkah with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and he prayed two Rak'at at each time of prayer till we returned to al-Madinah.”
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 the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he did not pray more than two rak'ahs when travelling, and Abu Bakr (did likewise) until he died, as did 'Umar and 'Uthman, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with them all."
Sahih al-Bukhari (1102)
As for performing jamak for prayers, it is permissible. The reason is there are narrations that mentioned that the Prophet PBUH sometimes would not perform jamak during his travels. Among them 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 (705a)
This means that sometimes the prophet PBUH did not perform jamak for his prayers when he was travelling. Imam al-Nawawi cited the opinion of Imam al-Ghazali. He said:
“Imam al-Ghazali stated in Al-Basit. Likewise, Al-Mutawalli once said in al-Tatimmah that it is best to not perform jamak and pray at their respective times. There is no khilaf (difference of opinions among scholars) that leaving jamak is prioritized. This is different with qasar.” (Refer Al-Majmu’ Syarh Al-Muhazzab, 4/378)
To conclude, it is not a problem for a person who wishes to qasar his prayer without jamak. However, if he has limited time to pray during his travels, then it is best to jamak his prayers as to not burden himself. May Allah SWT give us understanding in His religion.
Wallahu a’lam.