Taken from: “Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith”, Volume 02
❀ Question:
If a traveler stops at a location and it is time for prayer (Ẓuhr, ʿAṣr, Maghrib, or ʿIshāʾ), and he joins the congregation (jamāʿah) right at the start (at Takbīr), should he:
- Complete the full prayer or
- Exit after two rakʿāt if he is performing Qasr?
Also, if the Imam himself is a traveler, what is the ruling for the non-traveling followers?
❀ Answer:
✦ If a traveler prays behind a resident Imam, it is obligatory for him to follow the Imam completely, i.e., pray the full number of rakʿāt—he should not shorten (Qasr) the prayer, even if he joins at the start or middle.
“The Imam is appointed to be followed.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)
Thus, even if the traveler joins the resident Imam from the first Takbīr, or later, he must complete the full prayer (e.g., 4 rakʿāt of Ẓuhr or ʿAṣr).
✿ Scenario 2: The Imam is a Traveler
- If the Imam is also a traveler, then he will perform Qasr (i.e., 2 rakʿāt for Ẓuhr, ʿAṣr, and ʿIshāʾ).
- After he completes 2 rakʿāt and says Salām, the resident followers (muqīmīn) must stand and complete the rest of their prayer (i.e., the remaining 2 rakʿāt).
This practice is established from the companions and early generations, where residents completed the prayer after the traveling Imam’s 2 rakʿāt.
✔ Summary:
① A traveler following a resident Imam must complete the full prayer (no Qasr).
② If the Imam is a traveler, he will pray Qasr (2 rakʿāt), and resident followers must complete the rest.
Wallāhu Aʿlam.
