Is shortening the prayer while traveling permissible or not? And likewise, combining and shortening the prayer, with providing evidence for this from the Book and the Sunnah?
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The questioner : Is shortening the prayer while traveling permissible or not? And likewise, combining and shortening the prayer, with providing evidence for this from the Book and the Sunnah?
The Shaykh : Shortening the prayer for the traveler is prescribed and strongly affirmed. It is disliked for a person to complete the prayer while traveling. In fact, some scholars said that shortening the prayer while traveling is obligatory, and if one completes it, their prayer is invalid. Allah mentioned this in His Book, and likewise in the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for the Qur'an, Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:101] His saying: [An-Nisa 4:101] means "when you travel." [An-Nisa 4:101] He negated the blame only so that no one would imagine that shortening the prayer is forbidden because of the reduction in the number of its units. So Allah negated that, except that He qualified it, Mighty and Majestic, by saying: [An-Nisa 4:101] The Commander of the Faithful, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about this condition. Its apparent meaning is that shortening is not permissible except in a state of fear, not in a state of safety. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 1199Sahih (Al-Albani) meaning shortening in a state of safety.
As for the evidence from the Sunnah: In the hadith of 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), she said: Also, it is established by the widespread practical Sunnah that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to shorten the prayer during his travels.
Therefore, shortening is very strongly prescribed for the traveler, and it is disliked for a person to complete the prayer.
As for combining, it is from the category of what is permissible. It is permissible for the traveler to combine the two prayers that are combined with each other, which are the midday and afternoon prayers, or the sunset and night prayers. However, if he has started his journey and continues in his travel, it is better to combine, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do that. If he moved before the sun declined, he would delay the midday prayer until the afternoon time. If he moved after the sun declined, he would bring forward the afternoon prayer with the midday prayer. Likewise, it is said regarding the sunset and night prayers: if he moved before sunset, he would delay the sunset prayer until the night time. If he moved after sunset, he would bring forward the night prayer with the sunset prayer.
As for if the traveler is staying, such as if he is residing in a place or staying overnight or the like, then it is better not to combine. And if he combines, there is no blame on him. It is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) combined in Tabuk while he was staying. Also, the apparent meaning of the hadith of Abu Juhayfah is that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was staying in al-Abtah during the Farewell Pilgrimage, he came out of his tent and prayed the midday prayer in two units and the afternoon prayer in two units. The apparent meaning of this hadith is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed them in one time, and this is combining. But if the traveler is in a town and hears the call to prayer, it is obligatory for him to respond to the caller and pray with the people. And if he prays behind the imam, he must complete the prayer, because whoever prays behind one who completes the prayer must complete it, even if he is a traveler.
The Shaykh : Shortening the prayer for the traveler is prescribed and strongly affirmed. It is disliked for a person to complete the prayer while traveling. In fact, some scholars said that shortening the prayer while traveling is obligatory, and if one completes it, their prayer is invalid. Allah mentioned this in His Book, and likewise in the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
As for the Qur'an, Allah the Exalted said:
And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy.
ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي الأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَقْصُرُوا مِنَ الصَّلاةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَنْ يَفْتِنَكُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنَّ الْكَافِرِينَ كَانُوا لَكُمْ عَدُوًّا مُبِينًاwhen you travel throughout the land
إِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي الأَرْضِthere is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer
فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَقْصُرُوا مِنَ الصَّلاةِ[especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you
إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَنْ يَفْتِنَكُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواIt is an act of charity which Allah has done to you, so accept his charity.
صدقة تصدق الله بها عليكم، فاقبلوا صدقتهAs for the evidence from the Sunnah: In the hadith of 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), she said:
The prayer was first prescribed as two units. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) migrated, the prayer for residents was increased, and the prayer for travelers was left as the original obligation.
كانت الصلاة أول ما فرضت ركعتين، فلما هاجر النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم زيد في صلاة الحضر، وأقرت صلاة السفر على الفريضة الأولىTherefore, shortening is very strongly prescribed for the traveler, and it is disliked for a person to complete the prayer.
As for combining, it is from the category of what is permissible. It is permissible for the traveler to combine the two prayers that are combined with each other, which are the midday and afternoon prayers, or the sunset and night prayers. However, if he has started his journey and continues in his travel, it is better to combine, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do that. If he moved before the sun declined, he would delay the midday prayer until the afternoon time. If he moved after the sun declined, he would bring forward the afternoon prayer with the midday prayer. Likewise, it is said regarding the sunset and night prayers: if he moved before sunset, he would delay the sunset prayer until the night time. If he moved after sunset, he would bring forward the night prayer with the sunset prayer.
As for if the traveler is staying, such as if he is residing in a place or staying overnight or the like, then it is better not to combine. And if he combines, there is no blame on him. It is established that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) combined in Tabuk while he was staying. Also, the apparent meaning of the hadith of Abu Juhayfah is that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was staying in al-Abtah during the Farewell Pilgrimage, he came out of his tent and prayed the midday prayer in two units and the afternoon prayer in two units. The apparent meaning of this hadith is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed them in one time, and this is combining. But if the traveler is in a town and hears the call to prayer, it is obligatory for him to respond to the caller and pray with the people. And if he prays behind the imam, he must complete the prayer, because whoever prays behind one who completes the prayer must complete it, even if he is a traveler.