5 Authentic Hadiths and Reports Regarding Qasr Prayer
Qur’anic Guidance:
Allah says:
"(When you travel through the land, there is no sin upon you if you shorten the prayer, if you fear that those who disbelieve may harm you.)"
(An-Nisa 4:101)
Clarification from the Prophet ﷺ:
Ya‘la ibn Umayyah (RA) said:
"I asked ‘Umar (RA), ‘Allah mentions shortening the prayer only in case of fear, yet today we are safe, so why do we shorten?’ He replied, ‘I wondered about the same, so I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.’ He said: ‘It is a gift from Allah, so accept it.’"
(Muslim 686)
Harithah ibn Wahb (RA) said:
"The Prophet ﷺ led us in two rak‘ahs of prayer at Mina, though we were many and safe."
(Bukhari 1656; Muslim 696)
If a traveller is uncertain when he will depart, he continues to pray qasr even if it lasts months.
Anas (RA) prayed two rak‘ahs for two months while in Sham with ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan in uncertain stay.
(Bayhaqi 3/251)
Abu Jamrah al-Duba‘i asked Ibn ‘Abbas (RA):
"We remain long in Khurasan for jihad; should we pray full?"
He replied:
"Pray two rak‘ahs even if you stay for ten years."
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah)
If intending to stay 19 days or less, pray qasr; if more, pray full.
Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) said:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ travelled and stayed for nineteen days, praying two rak‘ahs."
He added:
"When we stay for nineteen days, we pray two rak‘ahs; if longer, we pray four."
(Bukhari 1080)
1. Qasr for the Traveller Without Fear
Qur’anic Guidance:
Allah says:
"(When you travel through the land, there is no sin upon you if you shorten the prayer, if you fear that those who disbelieve may harm you.)"
(An-Nisa 4:101)
Clarification from the Prophet ﷺ:
Ya‘la ibn Umayyah (RA) said:
"I asked ‘Umar (RA), ‘Allah mentions shortening the prayer only in case of fear, yet today we are safe, so why do we shorten?’ He replied, ‘I wondered about the same, so I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.’ He said: ‘It is a gift from Allah, so accept it.’"
(Muslim 686)
2. Shortening Prayer in Safety
Harithah ibn Wahb (RA) said:
"The Prophet ﷺ led us in two rak‘ahs of prayer at Mina, though we were many and safe."
(Bukhari 1656; Muslim 696)
3. Indefinite Shortening in Uncertain Stay
If a traveller is uncertain when he will depart, he continues to pray qasr even if it lasts months.
Anas (RA) prayed two rak‘ahs for two months while in Sham with ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan in uncertain stay.
(Bayhaqi 3/251)
Abu Jamrah al-Duba‘i asked Ibn ‘Abbas (RA):
"We remain long in Khurasan for jihad; should we pray full?"
He replied:
"Pray two rak‘ahs even if you stay for ten years."
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah)
4. Nineteen-Day Limit for Qasr
If intending to stay 19 days or less, pray qasr; if more, pray full.
Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) said:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ travelled and stayed for nineteen days, praying two rak‘ahs."
He added:
"When we stay for nineteen days, we pray two rak‘ahs; if longer, we pray four."
(Bukhari 1080)
5. Practical Ruling
- Qasr is a mercy and gift from Allah, not limited to fear conditions.
- Safe or unsafe, the traveller prays two rak‘ahs for Dhuhr, ‘Asr, and ‘Isha.
- The period and intention of stay determine whether qasr continues.
