Qasr Prayer for 12 Miles or More Than 4 Days Stay — Explained with 2 Evidences
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Page 436
➊ If a person travels intending to cover 12 miles, is he allowed to pray Qasr (shortened prayer)?
➋ If one intends to stay at a place for more than four days, should they shorten the prayer or offer it in full?
Hadith Reference:
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, Bāb Awwal, Vol. 1, Page 242, Ḥadīth 691
Narrated by Yaḥyā ibn Yazīd al-Hunāʾī:
“I asked Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه) about shortening the prayer. He said: ‘Whenever the Prophet ﷺ traveled a distance of three miles or three farsakh (Shuʿbah, the narrator, was unsure), he would perform two rakʿahs (i.e., shorten the prayer).’”
Explanation:
◈ Although there is a doubt between three miles and three farsakh, scholars have preferred three farsakh (≈ 9 miles), which equals around 11 standard miles or 20–22 km.
✔ Therefore, Qasr prayer is permissible if the journey is at least 11 miles (approx. 20–22 km).
Hadith Reference:
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Abwāb Taqṣīr al-Ṣalāh, Bāb Mā Jāʾa fī al-Taqṣīr wa Kam Yaqīm Ḥattā Yaqṣur, Vol. 1, Page 147, Ḥadīth 1080
Narrated by Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
“The Prophet ﷺ stayed (in a location during travel) for 19 days and continued to offer Qasr. So, we too would shorten our prayers if we stayed for 19 days. But if we stayed longer, we would pray in full.”
Explanation:
◈ The Prophet ﷺ performed Qasr for 19 days, indicating that any stay less than 20 days allows for shortened prayer.
✔ If the stay exceeds 19 days, full prayer must be offered.
① Qasr on 12 Miles?
✦ No.
✦ One must travel at least 11 standard miles (≈ 20–22 km) for Qasr to be valid.
② Stay of 4 Days or More?
✦ If the intention is to stay for up to 19 days, Qasr is permissible and proven from the Sunnah.
✦ For a stay of 20 days or more, full prayer becomes obligatory.
❖ Important Note:
◈ There is no explicit evidence in the Sunnah specifically for 3 or 4-day stay conditions.
◈ The benchmark from authentic hadith is 19 days — established from the action of the Prophet ﷺ.
ھٰذا ما عندي، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Page 436
❖ Questions:
➊ If a person travels intending to cover 12 miles, is he allowed to pray Qasr (shortened prayer)?
➋ If one intends to stay at a place for more than four days, should they shorten the prayer or offer it in full?
✿ Evidence ➊:
Hadith Reference:
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb Ṣalāt al-Musāfirīn, Bāb Awwal, Vol. 1, Page 242, Ḥadīth 691
Narrated by Yaḥyā ibn Yazīd al-Hunāʾī:
“I asked Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه) about shortening the prayer. He said: ‘Whenever the Prophet ﷺ traveled a distance of three miles or three farsakh (Shuʿbah, the narrator, was unsure), he would perform two rakʿahs (i.e., shorten the prayer).’”
Explanation:
◈ Although there is a doubt between three miles and three farsakh, scholars have preferred three farsakh (≈ 9 miles), which equals around 11 standard miles or 20–22 km.
✔ Therefore, Qasr prayer is permissible if the journey is at least 11 miles (approx. 20–22 km).
✿ Evidence ➋:
Hadith Reference:
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Abwāb Taqṣīr al-Ṣalāh, Bāb Mā Jāʾa fī al-Taqṣīr wa Kam Yaqīm Ḥattā Yaqṣur, Vol. 1, Page 147, Ḥadīth 1080
Narrated by Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
“The Prophet ﷺ stayed (in a location during travel) for 19 days and continued to offer Qasr. So, we too would shorten our prayers if we stayed for 19 days. But if we stayed longer, we would pray in full.”
Explanation:
◈ The Prophet ﷺ performed Qasr for 19 days, indicating that any stay less than 20 days allows for shortened prayer.
✔ If the stay exceeds 19 days, full prayer must be offered.
✿ Final Summary:
① Qasr on 12 Miles?
✦ No.
✦ One must travel at least 11 standard miles (≈ 20–22 km) for Qasr to be valid.
② Stay of 4 Days or More?
✦ If the intention is to stay for up to 19 days, Qasr is permissible and proven from the Sunnah.
✦ For a stay of 20 days or more, full prayer becomes obligatory.
❖ Important Note:
◈ There is no explicit evidence in the Sunnah specifically for 3 or 4-day stay conditions.
◈ The benchmark from authentic hadith is 19 days — established from the action of the Prophet ﷺ.
ھٰذا ما عندي، واللہ أعلم بالصواب
