How can custom have a consistent standard when some people may go out daily to a distant place without bidding farewell to their families?
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The questioner : A second point is, as you mentioned, that custom may be what one relies on in the case of a person who is traveling or not. Some people may have work in a nearby town, such as Bahrain, which may require two or three days, or they may return on the same day. In the case of this person, it may be that his family is accustomed to this man going out and coming back, so he does not bid them farewell every time, for example, if he leaves in the morning and returns in the evening. What is the ruling in this case?
The Shaykh : Ask him to consult his heart, and if the one who consults his heart gives him a ruling, ask him: Does he bid farewell to his family as you described in this situation, or do his family bid him farewell? Ask him: What does he mean? Is he intending to travel or not? For example, if a person is caught off guard while saying in his heart, not in his words, while standing facing the qiblah in prayer, "My brother, what are you going to pray?" He would tell you the obligatory prayer, or he would tell you the voluntary prayer, why? Because he is fully prepared in his mind; he is not unaware. So, the one who wants to travel, as I said, for example, to Bahrain: Are you intending to travel or not? By Allah, if the matter reaches a point where a person does not know what he intends, the mufti cannot do anything.
The questioner : So, the issue becomes a matter of defining the concept of travel for the person himself.
The Shaykh : We will clarify the concept of travel for you. After this clarification, you should consult your heart, and if the one who consults his heart gives you a ruling. Before this, no.
The Shaykh : Ask him to consult his heart, and if the one who consults his heart gives him a ruling, ask him: Does he bid farewell to his family as you described in this situation, or do his family bid him farewell? Ask him: What does he mean? Is he intending to travel or not? For example, if a person is caught off guard while saying in his heart, not in his words, while standing facing the qiblah in prayer, "My brother, what are you going to pray?" He would tell you the obligatory prayer, or he would tell you the voluntary prayer, why? Because he is fully prepared in his mind; he is not unaware. So, the one who wants to travel, as I said, for example, to Bahrain: Are you intending to travel or not? By Allah, if the matter reaches a point where a person does not know what he intends, the mufti cannot do anything.
The questioner : So, the issue becomes a matter of defining the concept of travel for the person himself.
The Shaykh : We will clarify the concept of travel for you. After this clarification, you should consult your heart, and if the one who consults his heart gives you a ruling. Before this, no.