Is it permissible to combine Friday and ‘Asr prayers when travelling? If this is not permissible, how can they be combined?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Friday prayer is not obligatory upon the traveler. If the time of his arrival coincides with a Friday prayer being performed, he may pray it and it will thus avail him of performing Ath-Thuhr prayer. Concerning combining Al-‘Asr prayer with Friday prayer, scholars have two opinions: Some of them view that the traveler may combine Friday and ‘Asr prayer in advance by performing two Rak‘ahs for ‘Asr after completing the Friday prayer. Those who adopt this opinion support it by arguing that Friday prayer replaces Ath-Thuhr. Since it is permissible for the traveler to combine Ath-Thuhr and Al-‘Asr, it then becomes permissible to combine Friday with Al-‘Asr because the substitute takes the same ruling of what it substitutes. Other scholars believe that it is not permissible. They argue that Friday prayer, which is not obligatory while traveling, is associated with residency and combining is often associated with travelling. As a result of the disharmony of the first set of associates the prerogative of combination is dropped. Perhaps the preponderant opinion is the first, because as long as the Friday prayer substitutes Ath-Thuhr it takes the same ruling even if it is associated with residency.

Allaah Knows best.