This excerpt is taken from the book “Ṣaḥīḥ Namāz-e-Nabawī ﷺ”
This excerpt is taken from the book Ṣaḥīḥ Namāz-e-Nabawī ﷺ, published by Maktabah Dār al-Andalus, authored by Shaykh ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ʿAzīz.
Discussion on the Prayer of Travel
① The Importance of Ṣalāh al-Qaṣr (Shortening the Prayer)
❀ Allah Almighty says:وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُوا مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ
Reference: An-Nisā’: 101
“And when you travel through the land, there is no sin upon you in shortening the prayer, if you fear that the disbelievers may put you to trial. Indeed, the disbelievers are a clear enemy to you.”
❀ The Prophet ﷺ said:
صدقة تصدق الله عز وجل بها عليكم فاقبلوا صدقته
“Qaṣr is a charity that Allah عز وجل has bestowed upon you, so accept His charity.”
Reference: Abū Dāwūd: 1199
Reference: An-Nasā’ī: 1434
Reference: Ibn Mājah: 1065
(Ṣaḥīḥ)And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إن الله يحب أن تؤتى رخصه كما يحب أن تؤتى عزائمه
“Indeed, Allah loves that His concessions be taken, just as He loves that His commands be followed.”
Reference: Ibn Ḥibbān: 354
(Declared ṣaḥīḥ by Shuʿayb al-Arna’ūṭ and al-ʿAllāmah al-Albānī)❀ Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said:
الصلاة أول ما فرضت ركعتين فأقرت صلاة السفر وأتمت صلاة الحضر
“Prayer was initially prescribed as two rakʿahs (both in travel and residence). Then the prayer of travel remained (as it was), and the prayer of residence was completed.”
Reference: Al-Bukhārī: 1090
Reference: Muslim: 685
❀ Sayyidunā ʿAbdullāh bin ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said:
إن الله فرض الصلاة على لسان نبيكم على المسافر ركعتين
“Indeed, Allah has made two rakʿahs obligatory upon the traveler through the tongue of your Prophet ﷺ.”
Reference: Muslim: 686
He further said:
صحبت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فكان لا يزيد فى السفر على ركعتين حتى قبضه الله
“I remained with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he never prayed more than two rakʿahs while traveling until Allah took his soul.”
Reference: Al-Bukhārī: 1102
Reference: Muslim: 689
✔ Shortening (qaṣr) during travel is not obligatory; it is preferable, because praying the full prayer during travel is also authentically established from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
❀ Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يقصر فى السفر ويتم
“The Prophet ﷺ would shorten the prayer during travel and would also pray it in full.”
Reference: Sunan ad-Dāraquṭnī: 2266
Reference: Al-Bayhaqī al-Kubrā: 5422
(Ad-Dāraquṭnī declared it ṣaḥīḥ)This ḥadīth is ṣaḥīḥ. For detailed verification, see Aḥkām wa Masā’il by Mubashshir Aḥmad Rabbānī (1/415–416).
❀ Likewise, it is established from Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها and Sayyidunā ʿUthmān رضي الله عنه that they would pray the full prayer during travel.
Reference: Muslim: 685
Reference: Al-Bukhārī: 1090
❀ Some people think that fear is also a condition along with travel for qaṣr. This view is incorrect. Rather, the reason for qaṣr is travel alone.
❀ Sayyidunā ʿAbdullāh bin ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said:
أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم خرج من المدينة إلى مكة لا يخاف إلا الله رب العالمين فصلى ركعتين
“The Prophet ﷺ traveled from Madinah to Makkah, fearing none but Allah, the Lord of the worlds, yet he prayed two rakʿahs (i.e., qaṣr).”
Reference: At-Tirmidhī: 547
Reference: An-Nasā’ī: 1436
(Ṣaḥīḥ)② Rakʿahs of Qaṣr
❀ During travel, the four-rakʿah prayers will be prayed as two rakʿahs.
Reference: Al-Bukhārī: 1102
Reference: Muslim: 689
❀ Maghrib during travel will remain complete, i.e., three rakʿahs.
رأيت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا أعجله السير يقيم المغرب فيصليها ثلاثا
“I saw that when the Prophet ﷺ had to travel quickly, he would establish Maghrib and pray it as three (rakʿahs).”
Reference: Al-Bukhārī: 1092
③ When Can Qaṣr Be Performed?
❀ Qaṣr begins after the boundary of the city or village ends, and on return, qaṣr continues until reaching the boundary of the city or village.❀ Sayyidunā Anas رضي الله عنه said:
صليت الظهر مع النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم بالمدينة أربعا وبذي الحليفة ركعتين
“I prayed Ẓuhr with the Prophet ﷺ in Madinah as four rakʿahs, and at Dhū al-Ḥulayfah (a settlement outside Madinah) as two rakʿahs.”
Reference: Al-Bukhārī: 1090
❀ He also said:
خرجنا مع النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم من المدينة إلى مكة فكان يصلي ركعتين ركعتين حتى رجعنا إلى المدينة
“We went out with the Prophet ﷺ from Madinah toward Makkah, and we kept praying two and two (rakʿahs) until we returned to Madinah.”
Reference: Al-Bukhārī: 1081
Reference: Muslim: 693
❀ It is mentioned about Sayyidunā ʿAlī رضي الله عنه that when he left Kūfah intending travel, he began qaṣr immediately while still seeing the houses of Kūfah, and when he returned near Kūfah and prayed qaṣr, someone said: “Kūfah is visible ahead.” He replied: “No! We will not stop shortening until we enter Kūfah.”
Reference: Al-Bukhārī: 1089
(Muʿallaqan)❀ If a person has left home but wants to pray before the city/village boundary ends, then he will pray in full, because his travel has not yet begun.
④ For How Much Travel Does Qaṣr Apply?
❀ Sayyidunā Anas رضي الله عنه said:كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا خرج مسيرة ثلاثة أميال أو ثلاثة فراسخ صلى ركعتين
“When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would go out for a distance of three miles or three farsakhs, he would pray two rakʿahs.”
Reference: Muslim: 691
This ḥadīth specifies two measures: three miles or three farsakhs. Therefore, as a precaution, qaṣr should be performed for three farsakhs (nine miles), which according to modern calculation is approximately 21.7 kilometers.
Reference: Islāmī Awzān: 81 (Farooq Asghar Sāram رحمه الله)
Also, the Prophet ﷺ leading the people of Makkah in qaṣr at Minā, Muzdalifah, and ʿArafāt, and the practice of ʿAbdullāh bin ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما, support this.
⑤ How Long Can One Perform Qaṣr in One Place?
❀ Scholars differ on this issue. The reason is that the Sharīʿah is silent regarding a fixed limit. Qur’an and ḥadīth establish qaṣr for the traveler, but no definite time restriction is established. Hence, some scholars set a limit in days, and others do not.❀ The view of those who do not set a time limit is stronger in light of evidences, because if a limit were necessary, the Sharīʿah would not have remained silent. Although performing the full prayer during travel is also established from the Prophet ﷺ, the preferable practice is qaṣr, and this was the usual practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ undertook many journeys, and staying for days in one place is established (such as during the expedition of Tabūk), yet he continued performing qaṣr. There is no single evidence proving that had he stayed longer than those days, he would have prayed in full.
❀ It is also established from the Companions رضي الله عنهم that they performed qaṣr for several months. ʿAbdullāh bin ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما remained in Ādharbayjān due to roads being blocked by snow and continued shortening prayer for six months.
Reference: Al-Bayhaqī al-Kubrā: 5476
Reference: Irwā’ al-Ghalīl: 577
(Ṣaḥīḥ)It is known that when roads are blocked by snow, they do not open in two or four days; months can pass, as in this incident. When the routes were closed, Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنه already knew he would have to remain there for months, yet he continued performing qaṣr, because he was a traveler, not a resident.
❀ In summary: if a person travels due to a temporary need, he may shorten until he returns home, as was the practice of the Prophet ﷺ and the Companions رضي الله عنهم. If due to some necessity he must remain in one place even for six months, he may shorten. But if he intends permanent residence, such as a student or employee, then he will pray in full. (وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَم)
⑥ Adhān and Congregation During Travel
❀ During travel, adhān, iqāmah, and congregation are necessary just as in residence.The Prophet ﷺ said to two men going on a journey:
إذا أنتما خرجتما فأذنا ثم أقيما ثم ليؤمكما أكبركما
“When you both go out (on a journey), then call the adhān, then pronounce the iqāmah, then let the elder of you lead.”
Reference: Al-Bukhārī: 630
Reference: Muslim: 674
⑦ Can a Traveler Lead Residents in Prayer?
❀ A traveler should not lead residents, but it is permissible with their permission.The Prophet ﷺ said:
من زار قوما فلا يؤمهم وليؤمهم رجل منهم
“Whoever visits a people should not lead them; rather, a man from among them should lead them.”
Reference: Abū Dāwūd: 596
Reference: At-Tirmidhī: 356
Reference: An-Nasā’ī: 788
Reference: Muslim: 673
(Ṣaḥīḥ)And the Prophet ﷺ said:
لا يؤم الرجل فى بيته ولا فى سلطانه ولا يجلس على تكرمته إلا بإذنه
“No man should lead prayer in another man’s house or within his authority, nor sit on his honored seat, except with his permission.”
Reference: Abū Dāwūd: 582
Reference: At-Tirmidhī: 230
Reference: An-Nasā’ī: 781
Reference: Ibn Mājah: 980
Reference: Muslim: 673
⑧ Resident Praying Behind a Traveler Imam
❀ If a resident prays behind a traveler imam, he must complete his prayer.As ʿUmar رضي الله عنه led qaṣr in Makkah and then said:
يا أهل مكة: أتموا صلاتكم، فإنا قوم سفر
“O people of Makkah! Complete your prayer, for we are a people who are traveling.”
Reference: Al-Muwaṭṭa’: 19
(Ṣaḥīḥ)⑨ Traveler Praying Behind a Resident Imam
❀ Mūsā bin Muslimah al-Hudhalī رحمه الله said that he asked Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما: “When I am in Makkah (as a traveler) and I cannot pray with the imam, how much should I pray alone?” He replied: “Two rakʿahs (qaṣr), and this is the Sunnah of Abū al-Qāsim ﷺ (that the traveler prays full behind the resident imam, and prays qaṣr when praying alone).”
Reference: Muslim: 688
❀ Nāfiʿ narrated that Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما stayed in Makkah for ten days and would shorten prayer, and when he prayed with the imam, he prayed in full.
Reference: Al-Muwaṭṭa’: 17
Thus, when a traveler prays behind a resident imam, he will pray in full, even if he joined in the last rakʿah, because in Al-Bukhārī (908) and Muslim (203) the general command is: “Whatever you catch of the prayer, pray it, and whatever you miss, complete it.”
⑩ Combining Prayers During Travel
❀ The principle is that each prayer is obligatory at its appointed time. However, during travel there is a concession for the traveler to combine prayers in advance or delay: Ẓuhr with ʿAṣr, and Maghrib with ʿIshā’.❀ Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ during the journey of Tabūk would combine Ẓuhr with ʿAṣr and Maghrib with ʿIshā’.”
Reference: Al-Bukhārī: 1107
Reference: Muslim: 705
❀ Anas bin Mālik رضي الله عنه said:
“When the Prophet ﷺ would set out before the sun declined, he would delay Ẓuhr until the time of ʿAṣr, then stop and combine them. And if the sun had already declined before setting out, he would pray Ẓuhr and then ride.”
Reference: Al-Bukhārī: 1112
Reference: Muslim: 704
Reference: Abū Dāwūd: 1218
❀ Muʿādh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه said:
“In the expedition of Tabūk, when the Prophet ﷺ would set out before the sun declined, he would delay Ẓuhr until combining it with ʿAṣr. And if he set out after the sun declined, he would pray Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr together, then travel. Likewise, when he departed before Maghrib, he would delay Maghrib until combining it with ʿIshā’; and when he departed after Maghrib, he would pray ʿIshā’ early with Maghrib.”
Reference: Abū Dāwūd: 1220
Reference: At-Tirmidhī: 553
(Ṣaḥīḥ)❀ Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما said:
“When the Prophet ﷺ was in a hurry during travel, he would delay Maghrib until (the twilight disappeared), then pray Maghrib and ʿIshā’ together.”
Reference: Al-Bukhārī: 1091
Reference: Muslim: 703
Reference: Abū Dāwūd: 1207
Reference: At-Tirmidhī: 555
(Ṣaḥīḥ)❀ The above two methods of combining (advance and delay) are for the traveler during the state of travel. But when he reaches his destination and the journey ends, then this is not permissible for him. It is observed that some people combine Ẓuhr with ʿAṣr and Maghrib with ʿIshā’ after reaching a place where they will stay for one or two days. This is not established from the Sunnah. نعم, if he wishes to combine like a resident, then it is permissible, and its method will be mentioned ahead.
❀ Some people combine Ẓuhr with ʿAṣr and Maghrib with ʿIshā’ before leaving their own city or village. This is also not permissible. This concession is for the traveler who is in the state of travel, not for the resident who is still within the boundaries of his city or village. Yes, once he goes outside the boundaries, then it becomes permissible.
❀ Only Ẓuhr with ʿAṣr, and Maghrib with ʿIshā’ can be combined. Combining ʿAṣr with Maghrib, or Fajr with Ẓuhr, etc., is not permissible.
⑪ Sunnah Prayers During Travel
❀ During travel, only the obligatory prayers will be performed; the regular Sunnahs are excused.Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما said:
صحبت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فلم أره يسبح فى السفر
“I accompanied the Prophet ﷺ, and I never saw him praying Sunnah prayers while traveling.”
Reference: Al-Bukhārī: 1101
Reference: Muslim: 749
❀ Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما was told by his nephew Ḥafṣ: “If you were to pray Sunnah prayers in travel, what harm would there be?” He replied: “If I were to pray Sunnahs, then I would have completed the obligatory prayers (as in residence).”
Reference: Muslim: 689
❀ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would definitely perform the Sunnah of Fajr during travel.
Reference: Muslim: 681
⑫ Combining Prayers While Resident
❀ A resident may combine two prayers.Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said:
“The Prophet ﷺ while staying in Madinah prayed seven rakʿahs (together) and eight rakʿahs (together), meaning eight for Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr, and seven for Maghrib and ʿIshā’.”
Reference: Al-Bukhārī: 543
❀ Some scholars consider combining two prayers without an excuse while resident to be a major sin. This is not correct, as combining in residence without an excuse is established from the Prophet ﷺ.
Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ combined Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr in Madinah without fear and without travel.” Abū al-Zubayr said: I asked Saʿīd why he did that. He replied: I asked Ibn ʿAbbās the same, and he said: “He wanted that no one from my Ummah should fall into hardship.”
Reference: Muslim: 705
❀ And in another narration of Muslim (705/54), rain is mentioned in place of travel, that he combined in Madinah without rain and without fear.
In one narration it states:
غير مرض ولا علة
“Without illness and without any cause.”
Reference: Ṭabarānī al-Kabīr: 12807
Reference: Ḥilyat al-Awliyā’: 90/30
(Isnāduhu ḥasan li-dhātih)❀ Thus it is established that two prayers can be combined in residence without any cause, but making it a habit is absolutely not permissible, because the usual practice of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was to pray at the earliest time.
❀ If it is permissible occasionally without any cause, then combining due to illness, rain, or another cause is also permissible, but the method will be the same as established for residents, which will be mentioned next.
⑬ Method of Combining Two Prayers While Resident
❀ If a resident wishes to combine two prayers, he will delay Ẓuhr and bring ʿAṣr forward; likewise, he will delay Maghrib and bring ʿIshā’ forward.It is narrated from ʿAbdullāh bin Shaqīq that once Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما began delivering a sermon after ʿAṣr in Baṣrah until the sun set and stars appeared. People started saying: “Ṣalāh, ṣalāh.” Then a man from Banī Tamīm came and continued saying repeatedly without pause: “Ṣalāh, ṣalāh.” Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said: “Do you teach me the Sunnah? May your mother lose you!” Then he said: “I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ combine Ẓuhr and ʿAṣr, and Maghrib and ʿIshā’.” (And he combined Maghrib and ʿIshā’.) ʿAbdullāh bin Shaqīq said: “Something remained in my heart, so I went to Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه and asked him, and he said: Ibn ʿAbbās has spoken the truth.”
Reference: Muslim: 705
Reference: An-Nasā’ī: 591
❀ Umm al-Mu’minīn ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated that during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, a woman was afflicted with istiḥāḍah, so she was instructed to pray ʿAṣr early and delay Ẓuhr, and to take one ghusl for both prayers; and to delay Maghrib and pray ʿIshā’ early, and to take one ghusl for both; and to take one ghusl for Fajr.
Reference: Abū Dāwūd: 294
Reference: An-Nasā’ī: 214
(Ṣaḥīḥ)❀ ʿAmr bin Dīnār said: I said to Abū ash-Shaʿthā’ Jābir bin Zayd: “O Abū ash-Shaʿthā’! I think the Prophet ﷺ delayed Ẓuhr and hastened ʿAṣr, and delayed Maghrib and hastened ʿIshā’.” He said: “I also think so.”
Reference: Muslim: 705
❀ Some believe unrestricted combining is permissible, i.e., both advance and delay, but they have no proof for it. For the resident, only one method is established from the Sunnah, as mentioned above: delaying the first and hastening the second. Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما delayed Maghrib and hastened ʿIshā’ and said that in the time of the Prophet ﷺ they used to do the same, and Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه supported him. Likewise, the method taught by the Prophet ﷺ to Sahlah bint Suhayl رضي الله عنها for combining two prayers in residence is also the same. Therefore, only the method of delay and hastening is established from the Sunnah; nothing else is established.
❀ Some believe that for residents only “apparent combining” is permissible, meaning praying Ẓuhr at its last time and ʿAṣr at its first time, so that they appear combined while still being in their respective times. Firstly, this involves hardship and defeats the purpose of combining, since combining is meant to remove difficulty, while apparent combining causes difficulty. Moreover, there is no evidence for it in the Qur’an and Sunnah. (وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَم)
⑭ Nafl Prayers During Travel
❀ All kinds of nawāfil can be performed during travel. (Their details are to be seen in their relevant chapters.)⑮ Missed Prayer in Travel: Qaṣr or Full When Resident?
❀ If someone missed a prayer during travel, then he will pray the missed prayer in full when he is resident, because he is no longer a traveler, and the concession of qaṣr is during travel, as Allah Almighty says:وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُوا مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ
Reference: An-Nisā’: 101
“And when you travel through the land, there is no sin upon you in shortening the prayer.”
❀ Likewise, if someone missed a prayer while resident and then begins travel, he may shorten it, because Allah Almighty stated generally that there is no sin upon the traveler in shortening. However, if he wishes to pray it in full, that is also permissible, because praying in full during travel is permissible. Some scholars say that precaution lies in praying it in full. In any case, shortening for him is permissible. (وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَم)
