Ruling on Performing Prayer While Riding an Animal/Vehicle
Source: Fatāwā Amunpūrī by Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Amunpūrī
❖ Question
What is the ruling on performing prayer while riding (an animal or vehicle)?
❖ Answer
Performing nafl (voluntary) prayers while on a ride is permissible. This is established by several authentic aḥādīth and reports.
❖ Evidences from Aḥādīth
◈ ʿĀmir ibn Rabīʿah (RA) said:
((رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وهو على الراحلة، يسبح، يومئ برأسه قبل أى وجه توجه، ولم يكن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصنع ذلك فى الصلاة المكتوبة))
“I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ praying on his mount, gesturing with his head in whichever direction it faced. However, he would not perform the obligatory prayers in this manner.”
— Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1097
◈ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (RA) reported:
((إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يسبح على ظهر راحلته، حيث كان وجهه، يومئ برأسه، وكان ابن عمر يفعله))
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray voluntary prayers on the back of his riding animal, in whichever direction it faced, gesturing with his head. Ibn ʿUmar (RA) also practiced the same.”
— Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1105, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 100/39
❖ Statements of Scholars
◈ Imām al-Nawawī (d. 676H):
((في هذه الأحاديث جواز التطوع على الراحلة فى السفر حيث توجهت، وهذا جائز بإجماع المسلمين))
“These aḥādīth prove the permissibility of performing voluntary prayers while riding during travel, regardless of the direction. This is permissible by consensus of the Muslims.”
— Sharḥ Muslim 5/210
◈ Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728H):
((اتفق العلماء على جواز التطوع))
“The scholars are agreed upon the permissibility of voluntary prayers while riding.”
— al-Fatāwā al-Kubrā 1/355
Conclusion
- Voluntary prayers may be performed while riding (animal or vehicle), in whichever direction it is facing.
- Obligatory prayers must not be performed in this way.
