What is the ruling if a bride combines prayers on her wedding day?

Answer

Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.

Primarily, the prayer should be performed at its due time. However, Islamic Shari’a allows Muslims to combine each two prayers, that is, the two prayers of the day: Dhuhr and Asr, and the two prayers of night: Maghrib and Isha’. This is because Islamic Shari’a intends to reveal hardship whenever it is possible. Some excuses that allow Muslims to combine prayers are fear, rain and illness. Excuses also include being busy as one cannot have time to do any other thing even performing the prayer taken into account that all these excuses are restricted.

Shaikh Muhammad Ahmad Hussain, the General Mufti (Muslim Legal Scholar), in the Palestinian Legal Verdict Council, was once asked if it is allowed for the bride to combine prayers on her wedding day, and he answered:

Originally, a Muslim should perform each prayer at its due time. Allah says: “The prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours.” An-Nisa’: 103.

Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud narrated that he asked the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH); “Which action is dearest to Allah? And the prophet replied: “Prayer at its proper time”. Related by Muslim.  

Islamic Shari’a allows Muslims to combine each two praters under certain circumstances. However, Muslim scholars have no final agreement on what these excuses are. Hanafi School scholars say that combining each two prayers is not allowed but for pilgrims on the Day of Arafat on the Mount of Arafa and on Muzdalefa. during performing Hajj. (Hashiyat Ibn Abdeen: 1/555)

The majority of scholars allow Muslims to combine each two prayers in other situations once there are considered excuses such as rain, fear, or illness. (Hashiyat Ad-Dusuki: 1/396) (Rawdat At-Talibin: 2/70) (Al-Mughni: 2/205).

The Hanbali School scholars have widened the range of excuses that allow Muslims to combine prayers. They say that excuses which allow Muslims to combine prayers are similar to excuses which allow them to leave the Friday Prayer such as being fearful for himself, money or property and others. Ashhab, who belongs to the Malki School, and Ibn Al-Munther, who belongs to the Shafi’i School, Ibn Sirin and Ibn Shabrama think that it is allowed to combine prayers when it is necessary as long as this does not become a habit and routine. Ibn Abbas (RAA) narrated: “The messenger of Allah (PBUH) prayed Dhuhr and Asr together, and Maghrib and Isha’ together, and not out of fear nor because of travelling.” Related by Muslim

 Then, Ibn Abbas was asked, “why did the prophet intend to do that. He answered that the prophet did not want to put his Ummah to unnecessary hardship.

Therefore, the bride can combine each two prayers on her wedding day depending on Ashhab’s and other scholars’ opinions.