✿ Sourced from: Aḥkām wa Masā’il, Volume 1, Page 235
(Section: Qasr Prayer, Travel Distance, and Residence-Related Issues)
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, Ammā ba‘d!
This article addresses important Shar‘i rulings related to qasr prayer (shortened prayer), distance of travel, and intentions of residence or departure, which influence whether a person performs the full or shortened prayer during travel.
✿ The commonly mentioned 23 kilometers as the distance for qasr prayer is an approximate estimate.
✿ If one uses official measuring tools or modern mapping systems and finds the distance to be 21.06 kilometers, then this is acceptable and valid.
✿ The discrepancy arises because the "farsakh" is an old unit of measure, difficult to equate precisely with kilometers. Generally:
➤ 1 farsakh ≈ 7 kilometers,
➤ So, 3 farsakh ≈ 21 kilometers (approx.)
✿ If someone reaches a destination and intends to stay for four days or more, then:
➤ From the very first day, he must perform full prayers (itam), because this intention invalidates the concession of qasr.
✿ However, if the person later changes the intention and decides to leave earlier:
➤ He may then resume qasr prayer, as the ruling follows the current intention.
✔ Summary:
◈ As long as one intends to stay 4 or more days, full prayers are required.
◈ Once the intention changes to travel, qasr becomes valid.
✿ If there are two possible routes to a destination:
➤ One route is 25 km
➤ The other is 12 km
✿ The ruling depends on which route the traveler actually takes:
✔ If he chooses the 25 km route, qasr is applicable.
✘ If he takes the 12 km route, qasr is not valid, because the Shar‘i minimum distance (~21 km) is not met.
✿ If a person arrives at a location and is instructed by the authority (e.g., an Ameer) to stay for ten days, then:
✔ He must perform full prayers during these ten days.
✿ After ten days, if he is awaiting further instructions and is uncertain about departure, then:
✔ He must continue to pray in full.
✿ The reason: The doubt arising after ten days is not considered valid for qasr.
✔ The Shar‘i principle is:
If the intention to stay for four days or more is clear, qasr is not allowed. Any doubt occurring afterward is disregarded.
➤ On the day he decides to leave or begins his journey, he may start offering qasr prayer again.
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
“Our Lord, grant us goodness in this world and goodness in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”
Adhere strictly to the Qur’an and Sunnah.
This is the true path to success in both this world and the Hereafter.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
(Section: Qasr Prayer, Travel Distance, and Residence-Related Issues)
✦ Introduction
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, Ammā ba‘d!
This article addresses important Shar‘i rulings related to qasr prayer (shortened prayer), distance of travel, and intentions of residence or departure, which influence whether a person performs the full or shortened prayer during travel.
❖ ① Clarification of Three Farsakh and 23 Kilometers
✿ The commonly mentioned 23 kilometers as the distance for qasr prayer is an approximate estimate.
✿ If one uses official measuring tools or modern mapping systems and finds the distance to be 21.06 kilometers, then this is acceptable and valid.
✿ The discrepancy arises because the "farsakh" is an old unit of measure, difficult to equate precisely with kilometers. Generally:
➤ 1 farsakh ≈ 7 kilometers,
➤ So, 3 farsakh ≈ 21 kilometers (approx.)
❖ ② Change of Intention Regarding Stay and the Impact on Prayer
✿ If someone reaches a destination and intends to stay for four days or more, then:
➤ From the very first day, he must perform full prayers (itam), because this intention invalidates the concession of qasr.
✿ However, if the person later changes the intention and decides to leave earlier:
➤ He may then resume qasr prayer, as the ruling follows the current intention.
✔ Summary:
◈ As long as one intends to stay 4 or more days, full prayers are required.
◈ Once the intention changes to travel, qasr becomes valid.
❖ ③ Choosing Between Two Routes with Different Distances
✿ If there are two possible routes to a destination:
➤ One route is 25 km
➤ The other is 12 km
✿ The ruling depends on which route the traveler actually takes:
✔ If he chooses the 25 km route, qasr is applicable.
✘ If he takes the 12 km route, qasr is not valid, because the Shar‘i minimum distance (~21 km) is not met.
❖ ④ Ten-Day Stay Based on Ruler's Order & Resulting Doubts
✿ If a person arrives at a location and is instructed by the authority (e.g., an Ameer) to stay for ten days, then:
✔ He must perform full prayers during these ten days.
✿ After ten days, if he is awaiting further instructions and is uncertain about departure, then:
✔ He must continue to pray in full.
✿ The reason: The doubt arising after ten days is not considered valid for qasr.
✔ The Shar‘i principle is:
If the intention to stay for four days or more is clear, qasr is not allowed. Any doubt occurring afterward is disregarded.
➤ On the day he decides to leave or begins his journey, he may start offering qasr prayer again.
❖ Supplication
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
“Our Lord, grant us goodness in this world and goodness in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”
❖ Closing Advice
Adhere strictly to the Qur’an and Sunnah.
This is the true path to success in both this world and the Hereafter.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
