Subchapter

Narrated 'Aishah (RA) that when the Salat (prayer) was first prescribed, it consisted of two Rak'at. Afterwards, the prayer during travelling was confirmed (as two Rak'at), while the prayer at the place of residence was completed (as four Rak'at). [Agreed upon]. al-Bukhari has: 'Then [(Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)] emigrated and it was prescribed as four, but prayer while travelling was left according to the original prescription (of two Rak'at).' Ahmad added, 'Except the Maghrib (prayer) for it is the Witr (prayer) of the day; and except the Fajr (prayer), since the recitation (of the Qur'an) is prolonged in it.'

Narrated 'Aishah (RA): While on a journey, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to shorten the prayer (sometimes) and offer it completely (sometimes). Similarly, he used to observe fast (sometimes) and break it (sometimes). [ad-Daraqutni reported it, and its narrators are reliable, but it is a defective Hadith]. The Mahfudh (correct) narration from 'Aishah (RA) (concerning this matter) is that it was her practice (that she (RA) offered prayers in the complete form during travelling) [and not the practice of the Prophet (ﷺ)]. She said: 'It is not hard for me.' [al-Baihaqi reported it].

Narrated Ibn 'Umar (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "Allah the Most High loves that His permissions be practiced, just as he dislikes that disobedience to Him be committed." [Ahmad reported it. Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn Hibban graded it Sahih (authentic)]. A narration has, "As He loves that His... duties be observed."

Narrated Anas (RA): When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) went out on a journey of three miles or three Farasikh, he (ﷺ) used to pray two Rak'at. [Reported by Muslim]. Farasikh (plural of Farsakh) is Persian unit of distance. Farsakh is equal to about three miles.

Narrated [Anas (RA)]: We went from al-Madinah to Makkah with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and he prayed two Rak'at at each time of prayer till we returned to al-Madinah. [Agreed upon, and the wording is al-Bukhari's].

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) (made a journey during which) he had a stop of nineteen days, during which he shortened his prayers. [Al-Bukhari] And in a narration: "(he (ﷺ) stayed) nineteen days in Makkah." In a narration of Abu Dawud: "seventeen days." And in another: "fifteen days." The narration of Abu Dawud from 'Imran bin Husain (RA) has: "eighteen days." His narration from Jabir (RA) has: Allah's Messenger (RA) stayed at Tabuk for twenty days, and he shortened the prayers (during his stay). [Its narrators are reliable, except that there is difference about whether or not it is Mawsul (unbroken chain of narrators)].

Narrated Anas (RA): When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (while on a journey) proceeded before the sun had declined from the centre of the sky, he (ﷺ) delayed the Zuhr prayer till the time of the 'Asr prayer; he (ﷺ) would then alight and combine the two prayers. If the sun declined before he (ﷺ) moved off, he (ﷺ) would offer the Zuhr prayer and ride (i.e. travel). [Agreed upon]. In the narration of al-Hakim quoted in the al-Arba'in with a Sahih Isnad, "He (ﷺ) prayed Zuhr and 'Asr then rode (his beast, to continue his journey.)" Abu Nu'aim has in his Mustakhraj of Muslim, "While on a journey, if the sun declined he (ﷺ) used to pray Zuhr and 'Asr together and then continue his journey."

Narrated Mu'adh bin Jabal (RA): We went out with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) on the Tabuk expedition, and he would offer Zuhr and 'Asr prayers together and Magbrib and 'Isha' prayers together. [Reported by Muslim].

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "Do not shorten the prayer (while travelling) for a distance of less than four Burud; from Makkah to 'Usfan." [ad-Daraqutni reported it through a weak chain of narrators, and the right opinion is that it is Mawquf (saying of a companion, i.e. Ibn 'Abbas). Ibn Khuzaima reported it as such]. Burud: Plural of Barid, which means three Farsakh, and one Farsakh is equal to three miles.

Narrated Jabir (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "The best of my followers are those who, having done evil, ask for forgiveness (from Allah); and when on a journey, shorten (the prayer) and break the fast." [at-Tabarani reported it in al-'Awsat through a weak chain of narrators]. al-Baihaqi reported it in brief as a Mursal (missing link after the Tabi'i) from Sa'id bin al-Musaiyab.

Narrated 'Imran bin Husain (RA): I suffered from piles. So I asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about the prayers. He said: "Pray standing; and if you are unable, (pray) sitting; and if you are unable, (pray) lying on your side." [Reported by al-Bukhari].

Narrated Jabir (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) visited a sick man and saw him praying on a cushion, he threw it away and said, "Pray on the ground, if you can, or else pray by gestures and make your prostration lower than your bowing." [al-Baihaqi reported it and Abu Hatim graded it Sahih (authentic) in Mawquf form (as a saying of a companion, i.e. Jabir)].

Narrated 'Aishah (RA): I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) praying while sitted in a cross-legged position. [Reported by an-Nasa'i; and al-Hakim graded it Sahih (authentic)].