When does a traveler begin shortening the prayer?

The questioner:
A scholar (may Allah have mercy on him) asked: When does a traveler shorten the prayer? Is it when he leaves the city, for example, or is it when he is in his home and intends to do so?

The Shaykh:
It is not permissible for him to shorten the prayer unless he has left the town, because he is not called a traveler until he has left the town. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not shorten the prayer unless he had left the town. So if he intends to travel while he is in the town and the time for prayer comes while he is still in the town, he prays it in full; he prays it as a resident, he prays it as a resident. Or if the mu'adhdhin calls the adhan while he is in the town, in his car, and he prays on the road, he prays it in full, because the obligation to pray it in full fell upon him before he left, so he prays it in full. The dispensations (rukhsah) only begin with leaving the inhabited part of the town. If he leaves the inhabited part of the town, he may avail himself of the dispensation to break the fast and shorten the prayer. But as long as he is inside the town, he remains a resident, not a traveler.
If the airport is inside the town, its ruling is the ruling of the town. If it is outside the town, its ruling is the ruling of travel. Fasting is the same. Yes.

Another questioner:
Thank you.

The Shaykh:
Hmm? If it is inside Riyadh, it is considered part of the town, and whoever is from the people of the town, even if he intends to travel, prays in full and does not break his fast until he passes beyond it. But if the airport is outside the town, outside the built-up, inhabited area of the town, then it has the ruling of travel. Hmm? It is. This is the opinion of Allah, if he followed it, it is the opinion of Allah and his ijtihad (independent legal reasoning) (may Allah be pleased with him), but the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is known. Yes.