Is it permissible for employees who travel daily 150 km to combine and shorten prayers, given that some of them have private accommodation which they only use out of necessity?

The majority of jurists have determined travel by distance, estimating it at approximately 80 kilometers, within which the concessions of travel are permissible, such as wiping over the khuffayn, combining and shortening prayers, and breaking the fast in Ramadan. Accordingly, a traveler may combine and shorten prayers if they pray Dhuhr and Asr in Rabigh or on the way back to Jeddah before entering it. An employee who has private accommodation but only resides there out of necessity is considered a traveler and is permitted to avail themselves of the concessions of travel. Combining prayers for a traveler is a concession, not an obligation.

However, according to the view that custom is the reference, the custom of many people today does not consider a distance of 150 km as daily travel. For this reason, Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen issued a fatwa against shortening prayers in this case because it is not considered travel according to common custom, unless there is hardship, in which case combining prayers is permissible. Accordingly, it is more cautious not to shorten prayers, but combining them is permissible if there is hardship in performing each prayer at its appointed time.