Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh. I am a Muslim student who studies in Miami City. I combine and shorten all my five obligatory prayers because I cannot find the right environment, I am very busy and there are not many masajid nearby in addition to the fact that this is a proven concession in Fiqh. My question to the noble Shaykh is: what is the ruling on what I do? And is it allowed to combine the Friday prayer with Asr prayer? Because the Friday prayer is the only salah that I pray with other Muslims and this occurs after I ask permission to leave my afternoon class then go to the nearest Masjid, which takes an hour and a half to reach by bus. May Allaah reward you with all that is good.

Wa Alaykumu Assalamu Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh. All praise is due to Allaah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allaah, his family, companions, and those loyal to him. Know, my brother in Islam, that you are considered a resident and not a traveller and a resident does not shorten the Salah at all. As for combining the Salawat then it is permitted when there are [valid] excuses such as rain, fear or sickness. And as for combining Friday prayer with Asr prayer then know that it is impermissible according to the majority of scholars even if there is a valid excuse. If that is the case for someone with a valid excuse then how do you expect the case to be for a resident!! And Allaah, Most High, knows best.