Assalaamu Alaikum Dear Imam, I had traveled to Sacramento from San Mateo for camping purposes. It is about 120 miles away from my locality. During my stay, I shortened my prayers as being a safar. On the way back, we left before Magreb time. On the way, we stopped for 30 minutes to have dinner in a restaurant. It was Magreb time, however, we didn’t pray Magreb. When we come home around 11pm, first we prayed Mabreb than Isha. Our intention was to delay Magreb and combine the two prayers, Magreb and Isha. Was this correct? Our local Imam said that was wrong. We should have been prayed while we stopped for dinner. He said you can combine Magrib and Isha by delaying Magrib to right before Isha time and first perform Magreb than Isha. Make sure that Magreb prayer is completed before Isha time enters. Another brother said that while our stay in Sacramento, we could have combined Zhur and Asr, and Magreb and Isha. For example, we could pray Zhur prayer as Zhur time enters then pray Asr. When Magreb time enters, first pray Magreb and pray Isha right away to make is easy for us. Is this sound proof? Is this permissible? Jazak Allahu Kharian for your help.

All praise be to Allah, and may his peace and blessings be on the last and best prophet and messenger, Muhammad,

Shortening and combining the prayers during travel, whether it is Ḥajj or not, are of the concessions given to us by Allah according to the majority (Mâlikis, Shafi‘is and Ḥanbalis). The imam was probably citing the Hanafi position which would not allow combining for travelers.

Al-Bukhari narrated from Anas ibn Malik: “The Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace) joined Maghrib and Isha prayers while traveling.” This report can be used by the majority in support of their position.

After arriving at your destination (the city you are visiting, in your case, Sacramento), combining the prayers would still be allowable, yet many scholars stated that it is not preferable (unlike the case when you are on the road).

Allah knows best.