The Ruling on Shortening and Combining the Prayers in the City before Starting on the Journey
Question :
Is it permissible for the traveller to perform two prayers at one time and shorten them, when he is in his hometown and has not yet departed?
Answer:
It is not permissible for the traveller to shorten his prayers in his hometown until he leaves it, because Allah, the Most High says:
And when you (Muslims) travel in the land, there is no sin on you if you shorten your prayer.
He (Allah) says:
When you travel in the land.
And he is not travelling in the land until he leaves the city. As for combining the prayers, if he fears that he will not be able to catch the second prayer on the journey, then there is no sin on him if he combines them, advancing the second prayer and performing it with the first, even if he is still at home. If he does not fear this, then it is not permissible for him to combine them, because he is still in his hometown and has not begun his journey.
Source:
Ibn 'Uthaimin
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 2 Pages 436-437
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