✿ Sourced from: Aḥkām wa Masā’il: Ṣalāh Section, Volume 1, Page 232
❖ 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
