What is the ruling on shortening the prayer for one who travels to seek knowledge and intends to return, but does not know how long he will stay?
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The questioner : A man traveled to seek knowledge and took his children and his family with him, and he stayed in a city without knowing how long he would remain, whether a year, two years, or three. In this case, does he shorten the prayer, and do his family members shorten it?
The Shaykh : But is he intending to return?
The questioner : Yes, that is right.
The Shaykh : And is the original intention to reside there?
The questioner : No, he intends to return, but he does not know if it will be after two years or ten years. His family and everyone else.
The Shaykh : His ruling is the ruling of a traveler, in our view, as long as he intends to return but has not set a specific time limit. His ruling is that of a traveler.
The questioner : Do the family members combine their prayers?
The Shaykh : Wait, wait. If his ruling is that of a traveler, then the man is obligated to pray with the congregation. But if he misses the prayer, he may shorten it. The women may shorten their prayers. As for combining prayers, it is better that the women do not combine, because combining is not a recommended practice except when there is a need for it.
The questioner : When returning from the visit.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : When they return for the visit.
The Shaykh : What is the situation with him?
The questioner : When they return to their previous area for the visit.
The Shaykh : When they return to their homeland.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : They do not shorten the prayer.
The questioner : They return from the visit.
The Shaykh : Even if it is because they are still residing there.
The questioner : He ...
The Shaykh : Yes, yes, they pray the full prayer.
The Shaykh : But is he intending to return?
The questioner : Yes, that is right.
The Shaykh : And is the original intention to reside there?
The questioner : No, he intends to return, but he does not know if it will be after two years or ten years. His family and everyone else.
The Shaykh : His ruling is the ruling of a traveler, in our view, as long as he intends to return but has not set a specific time limit. His ruling is that of a traveler.
The questioner : Do the family members combine their prayers?
The Shaykh : Wait, wait. If his ruling is that of a traveler, then the man is obligated to pray with the congregation. But if he misses the prayer, he may shorten it. The women may shorten their prayers. As for combining prayers, it is better that the women do not combine, because combining is not a recommended practice except when there is a need for it.
The questioner : When returning from the visit.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : When they return for the visit.
The Shaykh : What is the situation with him?
The questioner : When they return to their previous area for the visit.
The Shaykh : When they return to their homeland.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : They do not shorten the prayer.
The questioner : They return from the visit.
The Shaykh : Even if it is because they are still residing there.
The questioner : He ...
The Shaykh : Yes, yes, they pray the full prayer.