Explaining the determination of the duration of travel and its effect on shortening the prayer
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Regarding shortening the prayer while traveling,Some scholars stipulated, saying: if one knows the duration of his trip, he shortens twenty-one obligatory prayers, excluding the days of travel,And some scholars said: if he does not know, he shortens until he returns to his hometown. Is this correct?
This issue has, my son, twenty-one opinions among the scholars,But the stronger position is: that as long as he has not resolved to stay for an indefinite period, he shortens, even if he remains for four days. Even if he knows he will stay for four days, or five, or ten, or four months, or four years. There is no evidence for distinguishing between knowing the duration and not knowing it. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) shortened the prayer in Tabuk for twenty days, and he knew that four days would not suffice, certainly. He stayed for nineteen days in Makkah during the Year of the Conquest, shortening the prayer. It is well known that he could not stay in this city he had conquered and send out to the surrounding areas to demolish the idols for only four days.Then he never said in all his life: O people! Whoever resolves to stay for more than four days, let him not shorten. He did not say this. Rather, he arrived on the fourth day of the Farewell Pilgrimage—his last journey—and continued to shorten the prayer until he returned to al-Madinah. He knew that people would arrive before the fourth day. Do all pilgrims not arrive except from the fourth day onward? Never. Some pilgrims arrive at the beginning of the pilgrimage, some in Dhul Qa'dah, and some in Shawwal. [al-Baqarah:197] When does it begin? From Shawwal. Did he say to his Ummah, knowing that some of them would arrive before the fourth day: Whoever among you arrives before the fourth day must complete the prayer? This is no small matter.
Since he did not say this, we know that this hadith, which those who limit it to four days cite as evidence, is not evidence for their position;Because he says: The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) knew that some had arrived before that and some would arrive after, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say to the Ummah: O people! Whoever among you arrives before the fourth day must complete the prayer.
So the important thing is that we say: Shortening is contingent upon travel. As long as you are a traveler, shortening is established for you. Wiping over the socks and leather socks for three days is established for you. Breaking the fast in Ramadan is established for you.However, we say: Breaking the fast in Ramadan: you may break it, but it is not recommended that the second Ramadan arrive without you having performed your obligation. Why? So that the months do not accumulate on you. You know that if four months, for example, accumulate, it becomes difficult for you to make them up. So if his breaking the fast leads to not making it up, let him make it up.
The questioner: Is shortening a recommended practice or obligatory?The Shaykh: Shortening is a confirmed recommended practice, and some scholars say it is obligatory. However, if he is in a town and the people are praying and completing the prayer, he must pray with the people and complete it, except for an excuse.
This issue has, my son, twenty-one opinions among the scholars,But the stronger position is: that as long as he has not resolved to stay for an indefinite period, he shortens, even if he remains for four days. Even if he knows he will stay for four days, or five, or ten, or four months, or four years. There is no evidence for distinguishing between knowing the duration and not knowing it. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) shortened the prayer in Tabuk for twenty days, and he knew that four days would not suffice, certainly. He stayed for nineteen days in Makkah during the Year of the Conquest, shortening the prayer. It is well known that he could not stay in this city he had conquered and send out to the surrounding areas to demolish the idols for only four days.Then he never said in all his life: O people! Whoever resolves to stay for more than four days, let him not shorten. He did not say this. Rather, he arrived on the fourth day of the Farewell Pilgrimage—his last journey—and continued to shorten the prayer until he returned to al-Madinah. He knew that people would arrive before the fourth day. Do all pilgrims not arrive except from the fourth day onward? Never. Some pilgrims arrive at the beginning of the pilgrimage, some in Dhul Qa'dah, and some in Shawwal.
Hajj is [during] well-known months
الْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَعْلُومَاتٌSince he did not say this, we know that this hadith, which those who limit it to four days cite as evidence, is not evidence for their position;Because he says: The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) knew that some had arrived before that and some would arrive after, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say to the Ummah: O people! Whoever among you arrives before the fourth day must complete the prayer.
So the important thing is that we say: Shortening is contingent upon travel. As long as you are a traveler, shortening is established for you. Wiping over the socks and leather socks for three days is established for you. Breaking the fast in Ramadan is established for you.However, we say: Breaking the fast in Ramadan: you may break it, but it is not recommended that the second Ramadan arrive without you having performed your obligation. Why? So that the months do not accumulate on you. You know that if four months, for example, accumulate, it becomes difficult for you to make them up. So if his breaking the fast leads to not making it up, let him make it up.
The questioner: Is shortening a recommended practice or obligatory?The Shaykh: Shortening is a confirmed recommended practice, and some scholars say it is obligatory. However, if he is in a town and the people are praying and completing the prayer, he must pray with the people and complete it, except for an excuse.