Is it permissible for the people of Dammam who are traveling to pray shortened and combined in the university, and is it permissible for the people of Al-Ahsa to join them and complete their prayer?

The specified distance for permissibility of combining and shortening prayers during travel is four burd, which is approximately 83 kilometers. The distance between Al-Ahsa and Dammam exceeds this.

Therefore, it is permissible for travelers from Dammam to combine and shorten their prayers in Al-Ahsa, as long as they do not intend to stay for more than four days.

There is no harm in establishing a second congregation for those who missed the first. It is permissible for residents to follow travelers in prayer, provided that the resident completes their prayer after the traveling Imam says the tasleem.

The following points should be noted: 1. It is not appropriate to establish two prayer congregations at the same time. 2. If the prayer is in a mosque with a regular Imam, everyone, including travelers, must wait for him, unless his presence is not possible or waiting would delay their journey, in which case they should pray outside the mosque. 3. It is preferable, when residents and travelers gather, for a resident to lead the traveling Imam, unless the ruler or his deputy is among the travelers.