If I traveled in the morning and arrived at night, and the next day I went to the hospital and returned and left the city at night, is it permissible for me to shorten and combine prayers? And if I went out to the hospital in the same city and returned at night, should I combine Dhuhr and Asr before leaving, or pray each prayer at its time shortened? And if the Maghrib adhan is called while I am on the road, should I combine it with Isha as a delayed combination?

It is permissible to shorten the four-rak'ah prayers (Qasr) during a permissible journey covering a distance estimated at about 83 kilometers, provided that the traveler does not intend to reside for four days or more. As for combining two prayers (Jam' - either Tqdim or Ta'khir), it is permissible, especially when there is a need. However, it is better to avoid combining them when there is no need, because Qasr is a regular Sunnah, whereas Jam' is a temporary concession. The traveler may combine Dhuhr and Asr prayers by performing them earlier (Taqdim), or perform each prayer at its designated time with Qasr, which is preferable. It is also permissible to combine Maghrib and 'Isha prayers by performing them later (Ta'khir).