A man traveled to a country that is at the distance for shortening the prayer, and he will stay there for approximately two weeks, for example, and he arrived at the time of the midday prayer. Is it permissible for him to delay the prayer
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The questioner : From the questions of a listener from the Arab Republic of Egypt, the question says: A man traveled to a country that is at the distance for shortening the prayer, and he will stay there for approximately two weeks, for example.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Yes. And he arrived at the time of the midday prayer. Is it permissible for him to delay the midday prayer with the afternoon prayer, and the sunset prayer with the night prayer, and combine them by advancing them on this day? And is the regular voluntary prayer recommended, specifically the regular voluntary prayer for the traveler? We ask for an explanation of the conditions for shortening the prayer, because many of the general public do not know them.
The Shaykh : If a person travels from his country to another country where he will stay for two or three weeks or more, and his intention is to return to his country when his business is finished.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : Then he is a traveler, and it is permissible for him to do what travelers do. However, if he is in a country where the call to prayer is made, it is obligatory for him to attend the mosque and pray with the Muslims, because the texts regarding the obligation of congregational prayer do not contain an exception. Indeed, Allah the Exalted said to His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)[An-Nisa 4:102] This is in the context of fighting and jihad in the path of Allah. And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fight while he was outside the city, traveling, so Allah made congregational prayer obligatory for them while they were travelers. But if it is assumed that this person who came to this city is far from the mosque, or he missed the prayer, there is no harm in him praying two rak'ahs, shortening the four-rak'ah prayer to two rak'ahs, as long as he is in this country until he returns to his country.
Likewise, the regular voluntary prayers for the midday, sunset, and night prayers are dropped for him. As for the regular voluntary prayer for the dawn prayer and the rest of the recommended practices, such as the mid-morning prayer, the night prayer, and the witr prayer, and others, they remain his right, because the traveler is only exempted from these three regular voluntary prayers, which are the regular voluntary prayers for the midday, sunset, and night prayers. As for the regular voluntary prayer for the dawn prayer, it is recommended even while traveling. And as for the afternoon prayer, it has no regular voluntary prayer. And it is permissible for him in this situation to wipe over the socks or leather socks for three days and nights, because he is a traveler. Yes.
The questioner : Thank you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah magnify your reward for what you have clarified for us and for the noble listening brothers.
Our noble brothers, the honorable Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, professor at the College, answered your questions.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Yes. And he arrived at the time of the midday prayer. Is it permissible for him to delay the midday prayer with the afternoon prayer, and the sunset prayer with the night prayer, and combine them by advancing them on this day? And is the regular voluntary prayer recommended, specifically the regular voluntary prayer for the traveler? We ask for an explanation of the conditions for shortening the prayer, because many of the general public do not know them.
The Shaykh : If a person travels from his country to another country where he will stay for two or three weeks or more, and his intention is to return to his country when his business is finished.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : Then he is a traveler, and it is permissible for him to do what travelers do. However, if he is in a country where the call to prayer is made, it is obligatory for him to attend the mosque and pray with the Muslims, because the texts regarding the obligation of congregational prayer do not contain an exception. Indeed, Allah the Exalted said to His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)
And when you are among them and lead them in prayer, let a group of them stand [in prayer] with you
وإذا كنت فيهم فأقمت لهم الصلاة فلتقم طائفة منهم معكLikewise, the regular voluntary prayers for the midday, sunset, and night prayers are dropped for him. As for the regular voluntary prayer for the dawn prayer and the rest of the recommended practices, such as the mid-morning prayer, the night prayer, and the witr prayer, and others, they remain his right, because the traveler is only exempted from these three regular voluntary prayers, which are the regular voluntary prayers for the midday, sunset, and night prayers. As for the regular voluntary prayer for the dawn prayer, it is recommended even while traveling. And as for the afternoon prayer, it has no regular voluntary prayer. And it is permissible for him in this situation to wipe over the socks or leather socks for three days and nights, because he is a traveler. Yes.
The questioner : Thank you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah magnify your reward for what you have clarified for us and for the noble listening brothers.
Our noble brothers, the honorable Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, professor at the College, answered your questions.