Answered by Shaykh Hamza Karamali, SunniPath Academy Teacher
I understand from ‘Reliance of the Traveler’ that one may begin shortening the prayer once outside the city one is in. But what is the case where one intends to travel within ones city, and prays a combined Dhur and Asr; at the train depot for instance. Is this valid?
Wa Alaykum As-Salaam
It is not valid to combine prayers before leaving the city limits.
Were you to join the two prayers, without shortening either, in the time of the first prayer (e.g. Zuhr), the first prayer would be valid if you did not shorten it. The second prayer would be invalid and you would still have to pray it in its time.
However, if you were to delay both prayers to the time of the later (e.g. Asr), without shortening, both prayers would be valid. If anyone does this intentionally knowing that it is Haram then he has committed one a major sin.
Wallahu’alim
Sulaiman Hart.
Amman, Jordan.