Ruling on a Traveller’s Prayer Behind a Resident Imam
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitab al-Salah, p. 277
Question:
If a person is travelling and joins the prayer in a mosque where the Imam is a resident (muqeem), should the traveller perform Qasr (two Rak‘ahs) or complete the full prayer?
In practice, it is observed that some people either pray only two Rak‘ahs and then sit, or give salam halfway through the Imam’s prayer, or remain seated quietly until the Imam finishes and then give salam with him.
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh!
Alhamdulillah, wa-s-salatu wa-s-salamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba‘d:
Traveller’s Prayer Behind a Resident Imam
If a traveller prays behind a resident Imam, he must complete the full prayer.
Practice of the Companions
1. ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (RA)
He prayed the full prayer behind ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan (RA) while travelling.
— Fatawa ‘Ulama al-Hadith, Vol. 4, p. 207
— Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 1060
— Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1084
— Sahih Muslim, Hadith 695
2. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (RA)
He also prayed the full prayer behind an Imam while travelling.
— Muwatta’ Malik 1/149
— Al-Sunan al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi, 3/157
— Sahih Muslim, Hadith 694/17
Prophetic and Companions’ Sunnah
No authentic or Hasan Hadith proves that the Prophet ﷺ or any Companion performed Qasr behind a resident Imam.
Thus, any traveller who prays only two Rak‘ahs behind a resident Imam is going against the Sunnah.
Permissibility of Full Prayer in Travel
Even during travel, a person may perform the full prayer without any excuse, and it is valid.
Evidence:
— Sunan al-Nasa’i (3/172, Hadith 1457, Sahih chain; authenticated by al-Daraqutni 2/188, Hadith 2271)
— Sunan al-Daraqutni (2/189, Hadith 2275 – "Isnad Sahih")
Multiple authentic Ahadith affirm this ruling.
Imam Ibn Taymiyyah’s declaration of these Ahadith as baseless is incorrect, as no valid proof supports such a claim.
Conclusion:
✔ A traveller behind a resident Imam must perform the full prayer.
✔ This is the established Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the practice of the Companions.
(Shahadat, December 2000)
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
