A Guide to Determining the Duration of Residence in Which Shortening the Prayer Is Permissible

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. Regarding the determination of a duration of residence in which shortening the prayer is permissible, he says: What is the evidence for that?

Answer:
This is the view of the majority of scholars, and its evidence is what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did during the Farewell Pilgrimage. He arrived in Makkah on the morning of the fourth day and stayed in al-Abtah, the elevated area, shortening the prayer for a period of four days. This indicates the permissibility of shortening the prayer for a resident for four days of intended residence. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) undoubtedly intended to reside for this duration because he was waiting for the Hajj. The Hajj is on the eighth day.
So he resided for these four days, knowing that he would stay that long, and yet he continued to shorten the prayer. This is a residence that does not prevent shortening. As for what exceeds it, if he intends it, the default is to complete the prayer, my brother. The default for the resident is to complete the prayer, and there is no evidence that he shortens it. One returns to the default, which is that the resident completes the prayer, except that four days are excluded due to the arrival of evidence regarding that. Yes.