✿ Sourced from: Aḥkām wa Masā’il: Ṣalāh Section, Volume 1, Page 232
Why did ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān (رضي الله عنه) offer full prayers (four rakʿahs) during travel instead of Qasr (shortened) prayer?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, Ammā ba‘d!
Scholars have mentioned multiple possible reasons why ʿUthmān (رضي الله عنه) would pray full (itam) even while traveling.
The strongest and most preferred view is that:
ʿUthmān (رضي الله عنه) believed Qasr was a rukhṣah (concession), not an ʿazīmah (obligation).
✔ Qasr is a permitted concession — not compulsory for the traveler.
✔ Therefore, the traveler may choose:
➤ To offer Qasr (shortened prayer) — which is preferable and Sunnah,
➤ Or to offer full prayer — which is permissible according to this view.
﴿ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَقْصُرُوا مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ ﴾
“There is no blame upon you if you shorten the prayer…”
[Sūrah al-Nisā’, 4:101]
✔ The phrase “لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ” indicates permission, not obligation.
✔ On this basis, ʿUthmān (رضي الله عنه) would perform full prayers during travel, considering Qasr as optional.
❖ ʿUthmān (رضي الله عنه) regarded Qasr as a Shar‘i allowance (rukhṣah) — not a strict duty.
❖ Thus, he chose to perform full prayers while traveling, based on his understanding of the Qur’an and juristic reasoning.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
❖ Question
Why did ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān (رضي الله عنه) offer full prayers (four rakʿahs) during travel instead of Qasr (shortened) prayer?
✦ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, Ammā ba‘d!
Scholars have mentioned multiple possible reasons why ʿUthmān (رضي الله عنه) would pray full (itam) even while traveling.
❖ The Strongest Opinion
The strongest and most preferred view is that:
ʿUthmān (رضي الله عنه) believed Qasr was a rukhṣah (concession), not an ʿazīmah (obligation).
✿ What This Means:
✔ Qasr is a permitted concession — not compulsory for the traveler.
✔ Therefore, the traveler may choose:
➤ To offer Qasr (shortened prayer) — which is preferable and Sunnah,
➤ Or to offer full prayer — which is permissible according to this view.
❖ Qur’anic Evidence Supporting This View:
﴿ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَقْصُرُوا مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ ﴾
“There is no blame upon you if you shorten the prayer…”
[Sūrah al-Nisā’, 4:101]
✔ The phrase “لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ” indicates permission, not obligation.
✔ On this basis, ʿUthmān (رضي الله عنه) would perform full prayers during travel, considering Qasr as optional.
✔ Conclusion:
❖ ʿUthmān (رضي الله عنه) regarded Qasr as a Shar‘i allowance (rukhṣah) — not a strict duty.
❖ Thus, he chose to perform full prayers while traveling, based on his understanding of the Qur’an and juristic reasoning.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
