Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 522
I work about 120 km away from my hometown. I stay in a hostel room during weekdays, where I keep my bedding and other items, though meals are mostly taken outside. Should I pray qasr or full prayers there?
Sometimes I go in the morning and return the same day without staying in the hostel. If I have to pray Ẓuhr in that city, what is the ruling?
On the way lies my in-laws’ city. If I stop and stay there, do I pray qasr or full? And if I only pass through without staying, what is the ruling?
Lastly, what is the ruling on combining prayers while travelling?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
◈ Since your employment is permanent, your stay at the office or hostel is not considered temporary.
◈ You are thus regarded as a resident (muqīm), and must pray full prayers, not qasr.
◈ Qasr is not obligatory but is allowed for travellers. In your case, full prayers are more correct and safer.
◈ While travelling from your hometown to your office city and back, you are in the state of safar. Hence, qasr prayers are permissible during the journey.
◈ Whether you enter the hostel or not does not change the ruling.
◈ Your employment makes you a resident in that city, so you must pray full there.
◈ Only while on the road are you allowed to shorten (qasr).
◈ If you stay at your in-laws’ place, then if the stay is less than four days, you may pray qasr.
◈ If you only pass through without staying, you remain a traveller and may also pray qasr.
Allah says:
﴿إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا﴾
(Sūrat al-Nisāʾ, 4:103)
“Indeed, the prayer has been enjoined on the believers at appointed times.”
From ʿUmar رضي الله عنه:
جَمَعُ الصَّلَاتَينِ مِنْ غَيرِ عُذْرٍ مِّنَ الْکَبَائِرِ
(al-Bayhaqī, vol. 3, p. 169)
“Combining two prayers without excuse is a major sin.”
Types of Combining:
① Jamʿ Taqdīm – praying the later prayer at the time of the earlier one (e.g., ʿAṣr with Ẓuhr).
② Jamʿ Taʾkhīr – delaying the earlier prayer to the time of the later one (e.g., Ẓuhr with ʿAṣr at ʿAṣr time).
③ Jamʿ Ṣūrī – praying the first at the end of its time and the next at the beginning of its time.
◈ Sunnah Rawātib and nawāfil are permitted in travel.
◈ The Sunnah of Fajr and Witr are never to be abandoned.
From ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
“The Prophet ﷺ never left two rakʿāt before Fajr and two rakʿāt after ʿAṣr.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
From Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما:
“The Prophet ﷺ would pray voluntary prayers on his mount during travel, including Witr.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
❖ Question
I work about 120 km away from my hometown. I stay in a hostel room during weekdays, where I keep my bedding and other items, though meals are mostly taken outside. Should I pray qasr or full prayers there?
Sometimes I go in the morning and return the same day without staying in the hostel. If I have to pray Ẓuhr in that city, what is the ruling?
On the way lies my in-laws’ city. If I stop and stay there, do I pray qasr or full? And if I only pass through without staying, what is the ruling?
Lastly, what is the ruling on combining prayers while travelling?
✿ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Ruling at the Office and Hostel
◈ Since your employment is permanent, your stay at the office or hostel is not considered temporary.
◈ You are thus regarded as a resident (muqīm), and must pray full prayers, not qasr.
◈ Qasr is not obligatory but is allowed for travellers. In your case, full prayers are more correct and safer.
Ruling During Travel
◈ While travelling from your hometown to your office city and back, you are in the state of safar. Hence, qasr prayers are permissible during the journey.
Whether or Not You Go to the Hostel
◈ Whether you enter the hostel or not does not change the ruling.
◈ Your employment makes you a resident in that city, so you must pray full there.
◈ Only while on the road are you allowed to shorten (qasr).
Ruling at the In-Laws’ City
◈ If you stay at your in-laws’ place, then if the stay is less than four days, you may pray qasr.
◈ If you only pass through without staying, you remain a traveller and may also pray qasr.
Importance of Praying on Time
Allah says:
﴿إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَّوْقُوتًا﴾
(Sūrat al-Nisāʾ, 4:103)
“Indeed, the prayer has been enjoined on the believers at appointed times.”
- The best is to pray in the earliest time.
- Delaying until the last moment fulfills the duty but does not bring the same level of reward.
Combining Prayers (Jamʿ bayna al-Ṣalātayn)
- Without excuse, combining is not allowed.
From ʿUmar رضي الله عنه:
جَمَعُ الصَّلَاتَينِ مِنْ غَيرِ عُذْرٍ مِّنَ الْکَبَائِرِ
(al-Bayhaqī, vol. 3, p. 169)
“Combining two prayers without excuse is a major sin.”
- Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما narrates: The Prophet ﷺ sometimes combined Ẓuhr with ʿAṣr, and Maghrib with ʿIshāʾ while travelling.
(al-Bayhaqī, vol. 3, p. 163)
Types of Combining:
① Jamʿ Taqdīm – praying the later prayer at the time of the earlier one (e.g., ʿAṣr with Ẓuhr).
② Jamʿ Taʾkhīr – delaying the earlier prayer to the time of the later one (e.g., Ẓuhr with ʿAṣr at ʿAṣr time).
③ Jamʿ Ṣūrī – praying the first at the end of its time and the next at the beginning of its time.
Sunnah and Nafl While Travelling
◈ Sunnah Rawātib and nawāfil are permitted in travel.
◈ The Sunnah of Fajr and Witr are never to be abandoned.
From ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
“The Prophet ﷺ never left two rakʿāt before Fajr and two rakʿāt after ʿAṣr.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
From Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما:
“The Prophet ﷺ would pray voluntary prayers on his mount during travel, including Witr.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī)
Conclusion
- In your office city/hostel, you pray full prayers.
- On the road, you may pray qasr.
- At the in-laws’ place, if you stay less than four days, qasr is allowed; otherwise full prayers.
- Combining prayers is allowed in travel due to genuine need, but not without excuse.
- Fajr Sunnah and Witr must never be abandoned in travel.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
