What is the ruling on combining and shortening prayers for Aramco employees in the Shaybah area who work seven days and then return to their permanent residence, knowing that the accommodation in Shaybah is fully equipped and has a mosque and a permanent imam? Is the concession of combining and shortening prayers permanent for those whose work in the area is temporary or permanent? Is the ruling of shortening prayers limited to being outside the area of residence? What is the ruling on praying in congregation in the residential mosque? Is it permissible to combine and shorten prayers on the day of travel if the time for one of the prayers begins before arriving at the permanent residence?

A resident is required to complete the prayer and fasting if he intends to stay for four days or more, and he is not permitted to avail himself of the concessions of travel. If you travel a distance (approximately 83 kilometers) from your place of residence, you are permitted to avail yourselves of the concessions of travel, such as shortening and combining prayers, and breaking the fast. It is permissible to combine two prayers if you have traveled a distance, even if you know you will return before the time of the second prayer expires, but it is better not to combine them. If the time for prayer begins before you leave your place of residence, you are obliged to perform the prayer in full without shortening it, and it is not permissible to combine it with the subsequent prayer before commencing travel. Prayer in the mosque is prescribed as long as you are in your place of residence, and you should be diligent in performing congregational prayer, even if there is no mosque, because the virtue of congregational prayer is not limited to the mosque, and its reward is twenty-seven degrees.