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Fatwa CenterPrayer While Travelling
Question
I am living in the Gulf area. I am going to travel to Cairo; my plane leaves before Maghrib prayer and I will arrive, Insha Allah, after Isha prayer. How should I pray that day? Can I make Zuhr and Asr combined and shortened? What about Maghrib and Isha? If I travel for one week or less, from Cairo to another place how should I pray during that period? Please be clear because I heard lots of opinions I don’t know which to follow.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Pray Thuhr and ‘Asr four Rak’ahs as shortening Prayers or combining them is a permission limited to the travelling person. So, the person who has not yet started travelling should not shorten prayers or combine them. Since your plane is leaving after Maghrib, you can then pray Thuhr and ‘Asr as usual.
As for Maghrib and ‘Isha, you could pray in the plane if you are able to perform ablution and direct yourself to the Qiblah and if you find an appropriate place for praying. You may also delay praying them till you arrive to Cairo, then you pray the Maghrib three Rak’ahs and ‘Isha four Rak’ahs if you are to stay there for more than four days.
But if your stay in Cairo will be less than four days, then you are allowed to shorten the four Rak’ahs prayers till you arrive at the place where you will stay. The same ruling applies to your travelling to any other place. If your intention is to stay there more than four days, then you should not shorten the prayers.
For more benefit on the ruling on shortening and combining the prayers, please refer to Fataawa 362857, 83821, 90615, 90113, 88402 and 350368.
Allah knows best.
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