✦ Ḥadīth Reference:
Narrated by Yaḥyā ibn Yazīd al-Hunā’ī (رضي الله عنه):
"I asked Anas ibn Mālik about shortening the prayer. He replied: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would shorten the prayer when he had traveled a distance of three miles or three farsakh (units of distance).”
(Shuʿbah was uncertain between three miles or three farsakh.)
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 291]
✦ Additional Evidences:
➤ From ʿAlā’ ibn al-Ḥaḍramī (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said a Muhājir (migrant) may stay in Makkah for three days after completing the rites of Ḥajj.
[Bukhārī: 2933 | Muslim: 1352]
➤ From Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ stayed ten days in Makkah and continued to shorten prayers.
[Bukhārī: 1081 | Muslim: 693]
➤ From Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
The Prophet ﷺ stayed in Makkah for seventeen or nineteen days and continued shortening prayers.
[Bukhārī: 1081 | Abū Dāwūd: 1230]
➤ From Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh (رضي الله عنهما):
During the Battle of Tabūk, the Prophet ﷺ remained for twenty days and shortened prayers throughout.
[Aḥmad: 3/295 | Abū Dāwūd: 1235]
✦ Scholarly Insights:
➊ Islamic scholars have derived from these narrations that the minimum distance to qualify as safar is approximately three farsakh (around 9 miles / ~14.5 km) — though the more widely accepted opinion among Ahl al-Ḥadīth is 48 miles (around 77 km).
➋ If one intends to stay in a location for more than four days, then he becomes a resident (muqīm) and must perform full prayers.
Staying for three days (excluding arrival and departure days) still counts as a traveler.
➌ If someone is on continuous movement or stationed temporarily — like in battle — he continues to shorten prayers regardless of the total number of days.
➍ These ḥadīths collectively indicate that duration and intention both influence the ruling on qaṣr — not just time alone.
Conclusion:
Islam has provided a practical framework for travel. The Prophet ﷺ shortened prayers during journeys and while stationed for battle or temporary stays, even for up to twenty days, due to non-residency intention. The most accepted opinion is that travel starts at about 77 km (48 miles), and one may continue shortening prayers until he intends to stay more than 4 days in one place.
