Is it permissible to combine the Maghrib and Isha prayers in one's town with the intention of traveling or without it?

It is permissible to combine two prayers while traveling once the traveler has actually begun the journey and left the populated area of his town. Mere intention to travel is not sufficient, for Allah Almighty says: "And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer," and "traveling throughout the land" means traversing it. The ruling on combining prayers during travel is the same as the ruling on shortening them. The condition of leaving the buildings of the town where the traveler resides is the view of the majority of scholars. Some scholars have permitted combining the Dhuhr and Asr prayers, and the Maghrib and Isha prayers, within one's own town for a need, without shortening them.