Under certain conditions, two Prayer services may be combined together. For example, Zuhr Prayer may be combined with ‘Asr Prayer. Similarly Maghrib Prayer may be combined with ‘Isha’ Prayer, if the following conditions prevail:

1. If a person is sick.

2. If a person is on a journey.

3. During rain or a storm.

4. If it is difficult to go to the mosque because of general discomfort caused by heavy rains.

It is preferable to combine the later Prayer with the earlier Prayer. However, in unavoidable circumstances, the earlier Prayer may be combined with the later one.

When the Prayers are combined, one Adhan is sufficient for both Prayers but Iqamah has to be recited separately for each Prayer.

It should also be remembered that the Sunnat part of the Prayer service need not be offered when Prayer services are combined together. However, the two Sunnats performed before the Jumu‘ah (Friday) Prayer are necessary and should not be omitted.

In case the Imam is leading the congregation for ‘Asr Prayer and a worshipper who comes late does not know which Prayer is being offered, he should join in anyway. Later, if he comes to know that he has missed the earlier Prayer, he should offer it individually after the congregational Prayer. However, if a worshipper who came in late knows that the Imam is leading the later Prayer, he should offer the earlier Prayer individually first and then join in the congregation. For example, if the Imam is leading ‘Isha’ Prayer, the latecomer should offer Maghrib Prayer, which he has missed, and then join in the congregation. If he does not know that the Imam is leading ‘Isha’ Prayer and he joins in thinking that it is Maghrib Prayer which the Imam is leading, he should carry on following the Imam. Afterwards, he has only to offer Maghrib Prayer individually, as his ‘Isha’ Prayer behind the Imam was valid. In normal circumstances, however, one should offer the earlier Prayer first and the later Prayer afterwards.