We are students studying in Makkah for three months or more; do we shorten the prayer or complete it? And what is your opinion of those who say that the prayer is shortened as long as you are studying?

The questioner: His EminenceThe Shaykh- May Allah preserve you - , we are students studying in Makkah for three months or more; do we shorten the prayer or complete it? And what is your opinion of those who say that the prayer is shortened as long as you are studying ... and may Allah reward you with good?

The Shaykh: What I have known from the statements of the Salaf is that they distinguished between the one who leaves his town and stays in another town for a temporary period, without intending in his heart to reside there, even if it is for months; this person remains under the ruling of a traveler; he shortens and combines. As for the one who intends to reside and feels at ease with it, and does in its path what the people of the town themselves do, he is a resident. In light of this, I say: As for the students who travel from their countries to Makkah for months, a year, or two years, I do not ... these, except that they have resolved in their souls, in their hearts, and in the dispositions of their chests to reside there. As for ... that, and the opposite is the case for the man who comes to a town for some need and does not know when he will return to his town, and he says: today I travel, tomorrow I will, and the period extends with him, perhaps more than these three months; this is a situation described as him not having resolved to reside, but rather he is hesitant about it, determined to leave if not today, then tomorrow, at the earliest possible time. As for the one who lives in a town and plans in his mind and resolves his matter to reside in that town for a month, let us say, for weeks; this is a resident, and the rulings of a resident apply to him.
Yes.