Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 522
If a prayer was missed during travel (safar), should it be performed in full (four rakʿāt) when at home (ḥaḍar), or should it be shortened (two rakʿāt)?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
From Abū Qatādah رضي الله عنه, regarding the incident when the Ṣaḥābah overslept and missed Fajr prayer during travel:
ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ بِلَالٌ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْغَدَاةَ فَصَنَعَ كَمَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ
(Aḥmad, Muslim; Nayl al-Awṭār, vol. 2, p. 31)
Translation:
Bilāl رضي الله عنه gave the adhān, then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed the two rakʿāt of sunnah, and afterward prayed the Fajr farḍ, performing the prayer in the exact manner he would pray it daily.
He said regarding this narration:
فيه استحباب قضاء السنة الراتبة
(Nayl al-Awṭār, vol. 2, p. 31)
Translation:
“This ḥadīth shows the recommendation of making up missed regular sunnah prayers as well.”
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
❖ Question
If a prayer was missed during travel (safar), should it be performed in full (four rakʿāt) when at home (ḥaḍar), or should it be shortened (two rakʿāt)?
✿ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Evidence from Ḥadīth
From Abū Qatādah رضي الله عنه, regarding the incident when the Ṣaḥābah overslept and missed Fajr prayer during travel:
ثُمَّ أَذَّنَ بِلَالٌ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْغَدَاةَ فَصَنَعَ كَمَا كَانَ يَصْنَعُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ
(Aḥmad, Muslim; Nayl al-Awṭār, vol. 2, p. 31)
Translation:
Bilāl رضي الله عنه gave the adhān, then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed the two rakʿāt of sunnah, and afterward prayed the Fajr farḍ, performing the prayer in the exact manner he would pray it daily.
Explanation
- This narration shows that a missed prayer (qaḍā’) is to be performed in the same manner it was originally prescribed, whether in safar or ḥaḍar.
- Hence, if a four-rakʿah prayer was missed during travel, it will still be prayed as two rakʿāt (qasr) when making it up, even if one is at home.
- Likewise, if a prayer was missed in ḥaḍar, it will be prayed as four rakʿāt even if one is travelling at the time of making it up.
Statement of Imām al-Shawkānī رحمه الله
He said regarding this narration:
فيه استحباب قضاء السنة الراتبة
(Nayl al-Awṭār, vol. 2, p. 31)
Translation:
“This ḥadīth shows the recommendation of making up missed regular sunnah prayers as well.”
Conclusion
- Qaḍā’ prayers are offered in the same manner they were originally due.
- If missed in safar, they are prayed in qasr (two rakʿāt), even if made up in ḥaḍar.
- If missed in ḥaḍar, they are prayed in full (four rakʿāt), even if made up during safar.
- As for sunnah prayers, making them up is mustaḥabb (recommended) but not obligatory.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
