Where Should a Traveler Shorten Prayer — Home or Workplace?

اردو میں پڑھیں
Font size:

✿ Sourced from: Aḥkām wa Masā’il, Volume 1, Page 236

❖ Question

A man works at a location far from his home. He returns home every two to three weeks, or after a month. Should he shorten (qasr) his prayers at his workplace or at his home?

✦ Answer

Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, Ammā ba‘d!

Such a person is not permitted to shorten (qasr) the prayer either at his home or at his workplace. Here’s why:

✿ Ruling on Praying at Home:

✘ He cannot shorten the prayer at home because:

  ◈ He is not a traveler in his own home.
  ◈ One’s home is a place of residence, so the full prayer must be offered there.

✿ Ruling on Praying at Workplace:

✘ He cannot shorten the prayer at the workplace because:

  ◈ He intends to stay there for four days or more, and according to Sharī‘ah:

“If a person intends to stay at a place for four days or more, he is no longer considered a traveler.”

  ◈ Therefore, qasr is not allowed, and he must pray in full at the workplace.

✿ When Is Qasr Permissible?

✔ The only place where qasr is allowed for him is:

➤ While traveling between home and workplace, provided the distance is 23 kilometers or more.

✔ Summary:

❖ At home → Must pray full, as he is not a traveler there.
❖ At workplace → Must pray full, due to intended stay of 4+ days.
❖ During travel (≥ 23 km) → Can pray qasr, as he is in transit.

ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب