Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Umar says that according to the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), the two rak'ahs of prayer during travel are complete; there is no reduction in them.

Hazrat Saeed bin Shafi narrates that I asked Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that when we travel, we have so many servants and others with us who take care of our needs, so how should we perform the prayer? He replied that when the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would go on a journey, he would perform two rak‘ahs until he returned. I asked the same question again and he gave the same answer. I asked again, so a man said to me, "Do you not understand what he is saying? Do you not hear what he is telling you?"

Hazrat Abu Hanzala says that I asked Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) about the prayer during travel, so he replied that offering two rak'ahs during travel is the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

Hazrat Ya'la bin Umayyah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that I asked Hazrat Umar bin Khattab about the verse in which Allah Almighty says: "When you fear that the disbelievers may harm you, there is no blame upon you to shorten the prayer." I said, "Now it is a time of peace, so should we still shorten the prayer or not?" Hazrat Umar replied, "The same thing that is unclear to you was also unclear to me, so I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about it. He said, 'This is a charity from Allah to you, so accept His charity.'"

Hazrat Abu Laila narrates that Hazrat Salman set out for a battle with twelve companions. He was the eldest among them. When the time for prayer arrived, everyone said, "O Abu Abdullah! Please lead us in prayer." He replied, "I do not have the right to lead; you are Arabs and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was from among you. Therefore, one of you should step forward and lead the prayer." So, one of them stepped forward and led four rak‘ahs. When we completed the prayer, Hazrat Salman said, "Why did we pray four rak‘ahs? For us, half of four, that is, two rak‘ahs, would have sufficed."

Hazrat Rabi’ bin Nazlah narrates that we set out on a journey with twelve or thirteen men; except for me, all the others were companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. When the time for prayer came, they all began to urge one another to lead the prayer. Among them, a young man stepped forward and led four rak‘ahs. When the prayer was finished, Hazrat Salman said, “Why did we pray four rak‘ahs? For us, half of four—two rak‘ahs—are sufficient. We are more in need of concession.” Upon this, everyone said, “O Abu Abdullah! You should lead the prayer.” He replied, “You, the descendants of Ismail, are the imams, and we are the ministers.”

Ibrahim narrates that a man came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, "I am a merchant and I frequently travel to Bahrain. How should I perform the prayer?" The Prophet instructed him to pray two rak'ahs.

Hazrat Abu Ishaq says that we were in Sijistan. I asked Hazrat Salamah bin Suhaib about prayer, so he said: "Keep offering two rak'ahs at a time until you return to your family." Hazrat Abdullah also used to say the same.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that we performed two rak'ahs with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in a state of peace, without any fear.

Hazrat Abu Juhaifah Suwai narrates that I performed two rak'ahs of Zuhr with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) at Mina. Then he continued to perform only two rak'ahs until he returned to Madinah.

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that initially only two rak'ahs of prayer were made obligatory, then they were increased and for a resident four rak'ahs were prescribed.

Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with both of them) says that in travel, two rak‘ahs are complete; there is no reduction in them.

Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) bin Rabee’ah narrates that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) set out on a journey, and until he returned, he continued to perform two rak’ahs (for each prayer).

Hazrat Abu Harb bin Abi Aswad narrates that Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) departed from Basra and performed four rak'ahs, and then said: When we cross this hut, we will perform two rak'ahs.

Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Harmalah says that a man asked Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib whether he could perform the full prayer and keep fast while traveling. He replied, "No." The man said, "I have the strength to do so." He replied, "The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was stronger than you. During travel, he would shorten the prayer and would not keep fast. And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said that the best among you is the one who shortens the prayer and does not keep fast while traveling."

Hazrat Abu Ishaq says that I met Hazrat Abdullah bin Ma’qil in Mada’in and I asked him, “I am the imam of my people and I want to return to my home. How many rak’ahs should I lead in prayer?” He replied, “Four.” Later, I met him in Rayy and I said, “I am the imam of my people and I want to return to my home. How many rak’ahs do you instruct me to pray?” He replied, “Two.”

Hazrat Ibn Tawoos narrates that my father used to perform Qasr prayer from the time he left the house until he returned.

Hazrat Mujahid says that a man came to Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) and said that he and his friend were both on a journey; he (the man) used to perform the full prayer and his friend used to shorten it. Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) said, "You were the one shortening the prayer and your friend was performing the full prayer."

Hazrat Abu Nadrah narrates that Hazrat Imran bin Husain passed by our gathering, so a young man stood up and said to him, "Please tell us how the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform prayer during Hajj, Jihad, and Umrah?" He came and stood among us and said, "He has asked me about something which I want to tell you all as well. I participated in Jihad with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Until we returned to Madinah, he used to perform two rak‘ahs. I performed Hajj with him, and until we returned to Madinah, he used to perform two rak‘ahs. I stayed with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Makkah in the year of the conquest of Makkah; he stayed there for eighteen nights. During that time, he led us in two rak‘ahs of prayer and then, after the salam, he would say to the people of Makkah, 'Complete your four rak‘ahs, for we are travelers.' I performed Hajj and Jihad with Hazrat Abu Bakr; until we returned to Madinah, he would perform only two rak‘ahs. I performed Hajj several times with Hazrat Umar; until we returned to Madinah, he would perform only two rak‘ahs. I performed Hajj for seven years during the leadership of Hazrat Uthman; he too would perform only two rak‘ahs. Then, in Mina, he performed four rak‘ahs."

Hazrat Abu Juhaifa narrates that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) offered two rak'ahs of Zuhr prayer in Makkah according to the prayer of a traveler.

Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Yazid narrates that Hazrat Usman performed four rak'ahs in Mina, so Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I performed two rak'ahs in Mina with the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). I performed two rak'ahs in Mina with Hazrat Abu Bakr. I performed two rak'ahs in Mina with Hazrat Umar. Now your ways have become different. My wish is that out of the four, my two rak'ahs are accepted.

Hazrat Haritha bin Wahb Khuzai says that I have performed two rak'ahs with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Mina, even though the people were in utmost peace.

Hazrat Dawood bin Abi Asim Thaqafi says that I asked Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) about the prayer at Mina, so he replied, "Have you heard about Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and have you believed in him? He used to offer two rak'ahs at Mina."

Hazrat Urwah narrates that Muhammad (peace be upon him), Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Umar, and Hazrat Uthman, during the early days of their leadership, used to lead two rak'ahs of prayer in Mina.

Hazrat Hanzala says that I asked Hazrat Qasim, Hazrat Salim, and Hazrat Tawus about the prayer at Mina, so they said that Qasr (shortened prayer) will be performed there.

Hasan says that a traveler will perform two rak‘ahs until he returns home; however, if he goes to a city, he will pray as the people of that city pray.

Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says that at first two rak‘ahs were made obligatory. Then, in the prayer of residence, an addition was made, and the prayer of travel was kept as it was. Hazrat Zuhri says that I said to Hazrat Urwah that Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) also says this and also performs the full prayer during travel; what is the reason for this? He replied that she interprets it in the same way as Hazrat Uthman did. I did not ask him what interpretation Hazrat Uthman gave for this.