Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām❖ Question:
If a traveller is in a state of journey and joins the last two Rak‘ahs of the congregational prayer led by a resident imam, can he intend to perform Qasr (i.e., pray only two Rak‘ahs) and end the prayer with the imam?
❖ Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, Ammā ba‘d:
It is not permissible for a traveller to shorten the prayer (Qasr) while following a resident imam. This ruling is based on the general command of the Prophet ﷺ:
«مَا اَدْرَکْتُمْ فَصَلُّوا وَمَا فَاتَکُمْ فَاَتِمُّوْا»
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān, Bāb Lā Yus‘ā ilā aṣ-Ṣalāh..., Ḥadīth: 636]
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Masājid, Bāb Istihbāb Ityān aṣ-Ṣalāh Bi-Waqār, Ḥadīth: 602]
“Whatever part of the prayer you catch, pray it, and whatever you miss, complete it.”
❖ Clarification of the Issue:
① If a traveller joins the last two Rak‘ahs of a prayer led by a resident imam,
② It becomes obligatory upon him to complete two more Rak‘ahs after the imam ends the prayer.
③ He is not permitted to end the prayer with the imam after praying only two Rak‘ahs, even with the intention of Qasr.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
