Q:

Can we combine Zhuhr and Asr in winter?

A:

In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Mercy-Giving

All praise is due to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad.

Winter itself is not a justification for combining prayers (Dhuhr and Asr together and Maghrib and `Isha’ together).

However, heavy rains and severe, cold wind may justify combining prayers when they cause hardship for people to attend congregational prayers.

This rukhsah (license), thus, is given to those who attend congregational prayers and find it difficult in these bad conditions to attend every congregational Prayer.

Heavy rains was a reason to combine prayers during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad as indicated by the statement of Ibn Abbas, “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) combined Dhuhr and Asr together and Maghrib and `Isha’ together in Medina without being in a state of danger or rainfall.” [Muslim]

This implies that combining prayers during rainfalls was a known practice. Severe and cold wind is considered analogous to heavy rainfalls, according to the Hanbalite School of Fiqh.

Almighty Allah knows best.