Question:
Is it correct to consider the city walls (فصیلِ شہر) as a condition for offering Qaṣr (shortened) prayer, especially in large cities where traveling 30 to 35 kilometers is common? Clarification from scholars is requested.
Answer by Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir ḥafiẓahullāh & Shaykh Saeed Mujtaba Saeedi ḥafiẓahullāh:
✦ Definition of Travel According to Custom (‘Urf)
✔ In customary understanding (‘urf):
Travel is what is commonly recognized as travel by people.
✔ Intra-city distances like 35–40 kilometers—such as from Orangi Town to Gulshan-e-Hadeed in a city like Karachi—are not regarded as travel in the common perception.
These are considered part of routine daily activity and not a journey in the Shar’i sense.
✦ Condition for Offering Qaṣr Prayer
❀ Qaṣr prayer becomes obligatory only when the distance qualifies as travel in common understanding (‘urf).
If it does not meet this criterion, then the prayer is to be offered in full.
✦ Views of the Jurists
✿ The condition of exiting city borders or walls (فصیلِ شہر) is an ijtihād-based opinion of certain jurists.
✿ In the modern context, where cities have vastly expanded, greater emphasis is placed on what is considered travel in customary usage.
✦ Opinions of Various Scholars
✔ Travel is what is called travel in common usage.
✔ Traveling 35–40 km within the same city is considered part of daily routine and is not classified as travel.
✔ Therefore, the condition of offering Qaṣr is based on customary understanding, not merely physical distance.
✔ This matter falls under ijtihād (scholarly discretion).
✔ As a precaution, it is better to offer Qaṣr after exiting the boundaries of the city.
✔ However, if someone chooses not to offer Qaṣr, there is no blame or harm in doing so.
❖ Summary ❖
① Recognized Definition: The definition of travel for Qaṣr prayer is based on customary usage (‘urf).
② Urban Travel Distances: In large cities, traveling 30–40 km is routine and not considered Shar’i travel.
③ Precautionary Measure: It is safer to shorten the prayer (Qaṣr) after exiting the actual boundaries of the city.
④ No Blame: If one does not shorten the prayer in such cases, it is still permissible and blame-free.
