Four Sharī‘ah Concessions Granted to Travellers and Their Details

Four Sharī‘ah Concessions Granted During Travel and Their Details
Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām



Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!


During travel, Islam has granted certain easements and relaxations in acts of worship so that the traveller remains protected from hardship and can perform his religious duties with ease. These concessions are as follows:

➊ Shortening the Prayer (Qasr)​

• The prayers that are normally four rak‘ahs in full (Zuhr, ‘Asr, and ‘Ishā’) are reduced to two rak‘ahs during travel.
• This is the Qasr prayer, one of the specific concessions for travellers.

➋ Postponing the Fasts of Ramadan​

• If a person is travelling during Ramadan, it is permissible not to fast.
• The missed fasts must be made up later, after Ramadan, equal in number to the days missed during travel.

➌ Wiping Over Khuff (Leather Socks) for Three Days and Nights​

• A traveller is allowed to wipe over his khuff (or similar thick socks) for three days and three nights after putting them on.
• This period starts from the first time of wiping, not from the time of wearing them.

➍ Dropping of Sunnah Mu’akkadah Prayers​

• In travel, the Sunnah Mu’akkadah prayers of Zuhr, Maghrib, and ‘Ishā’ (those Sunnahs the Prophet ﷺ always observed) are no longer necessary to perform.
• However, the Sunnahs of Fajr and other voluntary prayers remain legislated and recommended.

Voluntary Prayers Permitted During Travel​

• Night prayer (Tahajjud)
• Sunnahs of Fajr
• Duḥā prayer (two rak‘ahs after sunrise)
• Two rak‘ahs after wuḍū’
• Two rak‘ahs upon entering the mosque
• Two rak‘ahs upon returning from travel (before entering the home, performed in the mosque)

Voluntary Prayers Not Performed by the Traveller​

• The Prophet ﷺ did not perform the Sunnah Mu’akkadah of Zuhr, Maghrib, and ‘Ishā’ while travelling, so the traveller is also granted exemption from these.

ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب