Patients who travel for treatment: Do they have the right to avail themselves of the dispensations of travel?
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Fatwa number ( 17014 )
Q: We are a group of patients and companions of patients, and the hotel management has provided us with a prayer hall due to our large number, approximately thirty people. Some of us know the duration of our stay because we came to see the doctor, while others do not know. Please note that we are not incapacitated, and some of us have been receiving treatment for about a year. Some have issued us a ruling to shorten the prayer, while others have issued a ruling to complete it. We are now confused: should we complete or shorten, and what is better? May Allah reward you with good. Please reply to us by fax as soon as possible. We are praying all five obligatory prayers in congregation. Please issue a ruling for us, may you be rewarded. And I ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) to prolong your life in His obedience.
A: If a person travels a distance that permits shortening the prayer and stays in a town for more than four days with the intention of residing there, he does not avail himself of the dispensations of travel. Accordingly, it is not permissible for those mentioned in the question to shorten the prayer, nor to combine prayers, nor to break their fast in Ramadan. Rather, it is obligatory for them to pray the prayers in full, each prayer in its time, and to fast the month of Ramadan.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: We are a group of patients and companions of patients, and the hotel management has provided us with a prayer hall due to our large number, approximately thirty people. Some of us know the duration of our stay because we came to see the doctor, while others do not know. Please note that we are not incapacitated, and some of us have been receiving treatment for about a year. Some have issued us a ruling to shorten the prayer, while others have issued a ruling to complete it. We are now confused: should we complete or shorten, and what is better? May Allah reward you with good. Please reply to us by fax as soon as possible. We are praying all five obligatory prayers in congregation. Please issue a ruling for us, may you be rewarded. And I ask Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) to prolong your life in His obedience.
A: If a person travels a distance that permits shortening the prayer and stays in a town for more than four days with the intention of residing there, he does not avail himself of the dispensations of travel. Accordingly, it is not permissible for those mentioned in the question to shorten the prayer, nor to combine prayers, nor to break their fast in Ramadan. Rather, it is obligatory for them to pray the prayers in full, each prayer in its time, and to fast the month of Ramadan.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.