A man works outside his country for two weeks and stays on leave in his country for a week; does he have the rulings of a traveler?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
His EminenceThe Shaykh : I am from the noble city of Makkah, I am married in Makkah, and I reside in Makkah, but my work is outside Makkah in the region adjacent to yours, the Badia region. So I stay at work for fourteen days and go to Makkah for seven days.
The Shaykh : Seven days?
The questioner : Yes, so does my presence at work, while I am married in Makkah and reside in Makkah, and I go to Makkah after fourteen days, I go to Makkah.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : So does my presence at work mean I am considered a traveler? Because at work, some of the brothers ask me to pray Jumu'ah sometimes, and they ask me to pray Jumu'ah, and I do not know how the method is?
The Shaykh : Are you at ease in your residence at this work?
The questioner : Yes, because the housing is private.
The Shaykh : A moment, a moment, do you want to stay permanently, or are you waiting for the opportunity to return to Makkah?
The questioner : At the earliest opportunity, if Allah wills, I will return to Makkah.
The Shaykh : Then you are a traveler. You are a traveler in your work, and what is permissible for travelers is permissible for you, such as shortening the prayer and wiping over the leather socks for three days, and so on. However, if you pray behind an imam who completes the prayer, you must complete it, and you must pray with the congregation, so you complete it. But if you are asked to pray Jumu'ah and you are in a place where Jumu'ah is held, meaning you are not outside the town, then pray Jumu'ah, and there is no harm.
The questioner : Do I pray with them as an imam, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : You pray with them as an imam, even if you are not from the people of the town; this is the stronger and correct opinion, and that it is not a condition for leading the Jumu'ah prayer that a person be a resident.
His EminenceThe Shaykh : I am from the noble city of Makkah, I am married in Makkah, and I reside in Makkah, but my work is outside Makkah in the region adjacent to yours, the Badia region. So I stay at work for fourteen days and go to Makkah for seven days.
The Shaykh : Seven days?
The questioner : Yes, so does my presence at work, while I am married in Makkah and reside in Makkah, and I go to Makkah after fourteen days, I go to Makkah.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : So does my presence at work mean I am considered a traveler? Because at work, some of the brothers ask me to pray Jumu'ah sometimes, and they ask me to pray Jumu'ah, and I do not know how the method is?
The Shaykh : Are you at ease in your residence at this work?
The questioner : Yes, because the housing is private.
The Shaykh : A moment, a moment, do you want to stay permanently, or are you waiting for the opportunity to return to Makkah?
The questioner : At the earliest opportunity, if Allah wills, I will return to Makkah.
The Shaykh : Then you are a traveler. You are a traveler in your work, and what is permissible for travelers is permissible for you, such as shortening the prayer and wiping over the leather socks for three days, and so on. However, if you pray behind an imam who completes the prayer, you must complete it, and you must pray with the congregation, so you complete it. But if you are asked to pray Jumu'ah and you are in a place where Jumu'ah is held, meaning you are not outside the town, then pray Jumu'ah, and there is no harm.
The questioner : Do I pray with them as an imam, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : You pray with them as an imam, even if you are not from the people of the town; this is the stronger and correct opinion, and that it is not a condition for leading the Jumu'ah prayer that a person be a resident.