Distance and Rulings for Shortening Prayers During Travel

This article is excerpted from the book Salat al-Mustafa ﷺ by Abu Hamzah Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi.

❖ The Traveler's Prayer​

Allah the Exalted said:
﴿يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ...﴾
(Al-Baqarah: 185)
"Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship..."

Islam is a religion of ease and does not impose obligations beyond one’s capacity. When a person sets out on a journey, facing hardship becomes a possibility. In this regard, Allah has granted two major concessions:

◈ Shortening the Prayer (Qasr)​

How to perform Qasr:
In travel, prayers of four rak‘ahs (Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha) are shortened to two rak‘ahs. However, Fajr (2 rak‘ahs) and Maghrib (3 rak‘ahs) remain unchanged.

The concession of Qasr is a divine ease and a practice beloved to Allah. Just as He loves His obligations to be fulfilled, He also loves when His concessions are accepted.

Mode of travel is irrelevant—whether by car, plane, ship, train, animal, or on foot—so long as the journey is legitimate (not sinful), Qasr is applicable.

◈ Determining the Travel Distance for Qasr​

Imam Ibn Qayyim رحمه الله stated:
"The Shari‘ah has not fixed a specific travel distance for Qasr or breaking the fast. Rather, any general travel (ḍarb fī al-arḍ) qualifies."
Zad al-Ma‘ad: 1/463

Shu‘bah narrated from Yahya ibn Yazid al-Hana’i that he asked Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه about Qasr, and he replied:
"Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ traveled three miles or three farsakhs, he would pray two rak‘ahs."
Musnad Ahmad: 3/129 – Saheeh Muslim: Hadith 691

Imam Albani رحمه الله commented in Silsilah as-Saheehah:
"This Hadith proves that a journey of three farsakhs (approx. 23–24 km) permits Qasr."
Silsilah as-Saheehah: 1/307–308

◈ Duration for Performing Qasr​

Sayyiduna Jabir رضي الله عنه narrated:
"The Prophet ﷺ stayed in Tabuk for twenty days and continued performing Qasr."
Sunan Abu Dawood: 1235 – Musnad Ahmad: 3/295 – Declared Saheeh by Albani

Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما reported:
"When the Prophet ﷺ conquered Makkah, he stayed there for nineteen days, praying two rak‘ahs. Ibn Abbas said: When we stay somewhere for nineteen days, we perform Qasr. If the stay is longer, we offer full prayers."
Saheeh Bukhari: 1080 – Musnad Ahmad: 1/315

◈ Combining Two Prayers While Traveling​

A traveler is permitted to combine Dhuhr with Asr, and Maghrib with Isha, either by advancing or delaying one of them.

• Dhuhr and Asr can be prayed together—either both at Dhuhr time or at Asr time.
• Maghrib and Isha can be prayed together—either both at Maghrib time or at Isha time.
• Each prayer is performed individually, not merged, but one after the other.

⚠ Note: It is not permissible to combine Fajr with Dhuhr or Asr with Maghrib.

◈ Supporting Hadiths​

Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما narrated:
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would combine Dhuhr and Asr, and Maghrib and Isha during travel."
Saheeh Bukhari: 1107 – Saheeh Muslim: 706

Sayyiduna Mu‘adh ibn Jabal رضي الله عنه narrated regarding the expedition of Tabuk:

• If the Prophet ﷺ began travel after Dhuhr, he would combine Dhuhr and Asr.
• If travel started before Dhuhr, he would delay Dhuhr and combine it with Asr.
• Similarly, if travel began after sunset, he would combine Maghrib and Isha immediately.
• If it began before sunset, he would delay Maghrib and combine it with Isha.

Sunan Abu Dawood: 1220 – Saheeh Ibn Hibban: 4/413–414 – Declared Saheeh by Ibn Hibban