How does a traveller pray? (Qasr)
The question as asked, details removedWhen does a person count as a traveller, and how are the prayers shortened?More
This is a sample answer written to show how the site works. It follows the standard Hanafi books, but no mufti has reviewed or signed it yet, so it is not a fatwa. For a real answer, ask a question. Ask a mufti
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِكِ الْوَهَّابِ اَللّٰهُمَّ هِدَايَةَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
1Short answer
Someone who sets out for a place about 92 km (57.5 miles) or more away is a traveller once they leave their town. They pray 2 rak'ahs instead of 4 for Zuhr, Asr and Isha; Fajr, Maghrib and witr stay the same. If they intend to stay 15 days or more in one place, they pray in full.
2Detailed answer
A person becomes a Shar'i traveller (musafir) when they intend to travel about 92 km or more and have left the built-up area of their town. Then:
- The four-rak'ah fard prayers (Zuhr, Asr, Isha) become 2 rak'ahs. In the Hanafi school this is wajib, not optional.
- Fajr (2), Maghrib (3) and witr (3) do not change.
- The sunnah may be left when in a hurry, and prayed when at ease; the sunnah of Fajr should not be left.
- If they intend to stay in one town or city for 15 days or more, they become resident there and pray in full.
- Behind a resident imam, a traveller prays the full 4 rak'ahs with him.
Once back inside their home town, they pray in full again.
3Evidence and sources
- Qur'an, An-Nisa 4:101
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Shortening the Prayer
- Sahih Muslim, Book of the Prayers of Travellers
- Bahar-e-Shariat, chapter on the traveller's prayer
Arabic texts, translations and how the ruling was derived
فرضت الصلاة ركعتين ركعتين في الحضر والسفر، فأقرت صلاة السفر وزيد في صلاة الحضر
Meaning: The prayer was made obligatory as two rak'ahs, two rak'ahs, at home and on a journey; then the travel prayer was kept as it was and the home prayer was increased.
Sayyidah Aishah's words show that two rak'ahs is the original prayer for a traveller, which is why the Hanafi scholars hold that shortening is wajib. The distance of three days' journey is converted by our scholars to about 57.5 miles, or 92 km.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُهُ أَعْلَمُ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ