The benefits of the hadith regarding the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) witr prayer while traveling.
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The Shaykh : This indicates that one should pray the prayer from its beginning to its end, such that even the opening takbir is performed in whatever direction one is facing. However, it is reported in the Sunan that he faced the qiblah when he intended to say the opening takbir. This is a recommended practice (sunnah) if it is feasible; if it is not feasible, there is no harm.
If someone asks: What do you say about the obligatory prayer? If one prays on his mount, is it sufficient? The answer is no, it is not sufficient except in a state of dire necessity. Dire necessity is when it is raining and the ground is flowing with water, so one is unable to dismount. If he dismounted to pray on the ground, he would not be able to do so. In this case, it is permissible out of dire necessity to pray on his camel. However, in this case, he stops and does not move; he stops and faces the qiblah, and he indicates the bowing and prostration, unlike the voluntary prayer.
If someone asks: What is the wisdom in the Shari'ah distinguishing between them? We say the wisdom in that is so that voluntary worship does not become burdensome for the servants, so they were made to find it easy in this matter, so that no one would say: If he dismounted to pray, it would hinder his journey. It is said that the matter is broad, and praise be to Allah.
And his saying: Yes,Sahih al-Bukhari 1000 in some wordings of the hadith, in a context other than this, this indicates that what is established in voluntary prayer is established in obligatory prayer unless there is evidence to the contrary.
Now, there are no mounts except airplanes, cars, and ships. Is it permissible to pray on these mounted vehicles? We say yes, if one is able to do what is obligatory, then it is permissible. For example, if the train is wide, a person can face the qiblah, stand, bow, prostrate, and do as the people on the ground do, so there is no harm. The same is said regarding the ship. The airplane is also such that one prays the obligatory prayer on it if he is able to face the qiblah, bow, prostrate, and do everything he can do on the ground.
If it is said: The airplane is not stable on the ground? We say yes, it is not stable on the ground, but the one prostrating on it will be stable on the floor of the airplane. The same is said regarding the ship as is said regarding the airplane, yes.
If someone asks: What do you say about the obligatory prayer? If one prays on his mount, is it sufficient? The answer is no, it is not sufficient except in a state of dire necessity. Dire necessity is when it is raining and the ground is flowing with water, so one is unable to dismount. If he dismounted to pray on the ground, he would not be able to do so. In this case, it is permissible out of dire necessity to pray on his camel. However, in this case, he stops and does not move; he stops and faces the qiblah, and he indicates the bowing and prostration, unlike the voluntary prayer.
If someone asks: What is the wisdom in the Shari'ah distinguishing between them? We say the wisdom in that is so that voluntary worship does not become burdensome for the servants, so they were made to find it easy in this matter, so that no one would say: If he dismounted to pray, it would hinder his journey. It is said that the matter is broad, and praise be to Allah.
And his saying: Yes,
by signals, but not the compulsory prayer
صلاة الليل إلا الفرائضThe Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray on his mount in whatever direction it faced, except that he did not pray the obligatory prayers on it
كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي على راحلته حيث توجهت به غير أنه لا يصلي عليها المكتوبةNow, there are no mounts except airplanes, cars, and ships. Is it permissible to pray on these mounted vehicles? We say yes, if one is able to do what is obligatory, then it is permissible. For example, if the train is wide, a person can face the qiblah, stand, bow, prostrate, and do as the people on the ground do, so there is no harm. The same is said regarding the ship. The airplane is also such that one prays the obligatory prayer on it if he is able to face the qiblah, bow, prostrate, and do everything he can do on the ground.
If it is said: The airplane is not stable on the ground? We say yes, it is not stable on the ground, but the one prostrating on it will be stable on the floor of the airplane. The same is said regarding the ship as is said regarding the airplane, yes.