Is it obligatory to pray Dhuhr and Asr shortened and combined upon the entry of Dhuhr time while traveling, or is it permissible to delay them until Asr time, or is it obligatory to pray each prayer at its designated time? And is it permissible to combine them if the traveler arrives before Maghrib? And is it obligatory to attend congregational prayer in the mosque upon hearing the Adhan after having prayed individually, and is being preoccupied with changing buses or searching for accommodation considered an excuse for missing the congregation?

If your travel distance reaches approximately 83 kilometers or more, you are permitted to avail yourself of the concessions granted to travelers, such as shortening prayers (qasr) and combining them (jam‘), after you have left the built-up area. You may choose what is more convenient for you between performing them early (taqdim) or delaying them (ta'khir). The Sunnah for combining prayers is to perform ‘Asr with Dhuhr if you depart before Zawwal (midday), or to delay Dhuhr with ‘Asr if you depart after Zawwal. Similarly, you combine ‘Isha with Maghrib if you depart before Maghrib, or delay Maghrib with ‘Isha if you depart after it. If the distance is less, you are not permitted to avail yourself of the travel concessions. Upon reaching your destination, the state of travel ceases unless you do not intend to reside for four days or more and it is not your homeland. If you combine prayers by performing them early and then hear the ‘Asr adhan, you are not obligated to repeat the prayer, but it is recommended to do so to attain the virtue of congregational prayer. Do not refrain from congregational prayer unless doing so would lead to hardship or falling behind your companions, because, according to the majority of scholars, the traveler is exempt from Friday prayer and congregational prayer.