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Q: A questioner inquires: I traveled to Makkah al-Mukarramah to perform żUmrah (lesser pilgrimage). The time for Jumużah (Friday) Prayer was due whilst I was near one of the towns on the way. I prayed the Jumużah Prayer with the Muslims there in the Masjid (mosque), and after doing that and since I was travelling, I pronounced the Iqamah (call to start the Prayer) and prayed the żAsr (Afternoon) Prayer. Was what I did permissible? Please advise us, may Allah reward you well! A: There is no evidence as far as I know to say that it is permissible to combine the żAsr Prayer with the Jumużah Prayer. That was not narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him) or from any of his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), so we should not do that. The person who did that should repeat the żAsr prayer when its time is due. May Allah grant us success! Q: Is it permissible for a traveller, if they are to offer the Jumużah (Friday) Prayer with some residents to combine the żAsr (Afternoon) Prayer with it? A: This is not permissible, for the Jumużah Prayer is not to be combined with any other prayer; rather, they should offer the żAsr Prayer at its due time. However, if the traveler offered the Jumużah Prayer as Zhuhr (Noon) Prayer and did not offer the Jumużah Prayer with the residents, then it is permissible for him to combine the żAsr Prayer with it, for a traveler is not obligated to offer the Jumużah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) combined between the Zhuhr and żAsr in the Farewell Hajj, on the Day of żArafah (9th of Dhul-Hijjah) with one Adhan (call to Prayer) and two Iqamahs (calls to start the Prayer) and did not offer the Jumużah Prayer. May Allah grant us success! Q: A Questioner from Riyadh inquires: I performed the Jumużah (Friday) Prayer in al-Masjid anl-Nabawy (the Prophetżs Mosque in Madinah). Since I was travelling, I made the intention to combine the żAsr (Afternoon) Prayer with it, shortened. When I was about to make Takbirat-ul-Ihram (saying: "Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]" upon starting Prayer) to perform the żAsr, the Mu'adhin (caller to Prayer) called for offering the Funeral Prayer, so I offered it with the congregation, then I offered the żAsr Prayer shortened. Was what I did right, meaning my offering the żAsr Prayer shortened and combined with the Jumużah Prayer separating between them with the Funeral Prayer? If not, what should I do? Guide me, may Allah reward you well and prolong your life! A: The żAsr Prayer is not to be combined with the Jumużah Prayer either in travel orin residence according to the most preponderant of the opinions of scholars. You have to repeat your prayer, because you offered it before its due time in a way that is not permissible to combine Prayers. With regard to separating between the two combined prayers, there is nothing wrong with this, for it is prescribed to hasten to bury the dead. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Hurry up with the dead body for, if it is righteous, you are forwarding it to welfare; and if it is otherwise, then you put off an evil thing down your necks." (Agreed upon by Imams Al-Bukhari and Muslim). Besides, separating between the two combined prayers with the Funeral Prayer is considered a slight break that does not violate combination according to those who set this condition. May Allah grant us success! Q: Praise be to Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) that He granted us rain nowadays; we ask Allah, the Most High, the All-Powerful to bless it and make it benefit all Muslim countries. Your Eminence, a dispute arose between me and some Muslim brothers concerning the permissibility of combining between the Jumużah (Friday) Prayer and the żAsr (Afternoon) Prayer in the case of heavy rain which makes it difficult to go out twice. Guide us in this respect, may Allah reward you! A: It is not permissible to combine between the Jumużah (Friday) Prayer and the żAsr (Afternoon) Prayer, because of rain or otherwise, for this act is not reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) or the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) as far as we know. Besides, the Jumużah Prayer is not equivalent to the Zhuhr (Noon) Prayer; rather, it is a separate żIbadah (worship) and acts of żIbadah are Tawqifiy (bound by a religious text and not amenable to personal opinion) and none of them can be innovated by mere personal views. May Allah help us all understand the religion and remain adherent to it! He is All-Hearer, Ever Near. [Fataawa Ibn Baaz, Vol. 12, pp 300-303]