Benefits of the Hadith: (The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when he traveled a distance of three…)
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The Shaykh : As for the third hadith of Anas, he says that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he traveled a distance of three miles or three farsakhs, would pray two rak'ahs. The scholars differed regarding the meaning of this hadith. Some said that if one travels three miles or farsakhs on a long journey, he prays two rak'ahs, meaning before completing the duration of the journey. For example, if a person from Madinah intends to travel to Makkah, do we tell him not to shorten the prayer until he exceeds the distance, which is two days, or do we tell him to shorten it when he travels a distance of three miles or farsakhs?
The student: The second.
The Shaykh : The second is a view, meaning the first of these people attributed the hadith to this meaning: the meaning is that if one travels three miles or farsakhs in?
The student: … a long journey.
The Shaykh : On a long journey, he begins to shorten the prayer, and it is not required that he complete the distance. This is taking the hadith away from its apparent meaning without a doubt. The second view is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he traveled, even if the distance of the journey was three miles or farsakhs, would pray two rak'ahs. This view is the stronger one, but it contradicts the view of the majority who say that there is no shortening except in a journey that reaches two days. So when a person goes to a place that is three miles or farsakhs away from his town, he prays two rak'ahs. Which is greater, farsakhs or miles?
The student: Farsakhs.
The Shaykh : Farsakhs. How many miles is a farsakh?
The student: Three.
The Shaykh : Three, so three farsakhs would be nine miles. Now, do we take the more cautious option or the lesser one?
The student: The more cautious one.
The Shaykh : Yes? It appears we take the more cautious option, unless there is evidence other than this indicating that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) shortened the prayer in less than three farsakhs, in which case we would follow it. As for this hadith, we say we take the more cautious option and ask Allah for forgiveness for the branch, since he was uncertain. Yes. Yes?
The student: The second.
The Shaykh : The second is a view, meaning the first of these people attributed the hadith to this meaning: the meaning is that if one travels three miles or farsakhs in?
The student: … a long journey.
The Shaykh : On a long journey, he begins to shorten the prayer, and it is not required that he complete the distance. This is taking the hadith away from its apparent meaning without a doubt. The second view is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he traveled, even if the distance of the journey was three miles or farsakhs, would pray two rak'ahs. This view is the stronger one, but it contradicts the view of the majority who say that there is no shortening except in a journey that reaches two days. So when a person goes to a place that is three miles or farsakhs away from his town, he prays two rak'ahs. Which is greater, farsakhs or miles?
The student: Farsakhs.
The Shaykh : Farsakhs. How many miles is a farsakh?
The student: Three.
The Shaykh : Three, so three farsakhs would be nine miles. Now, do we take the more cautious option or the lesser one?
The student: The more cautious one.
The Shaykh : Yes? It appears we take the more cautious option, unless there is evidence other than this indicating that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) shortened the prayer in less than three farsakhs, in which case we would follow it. As for this hadith, we say we take the more cautious option and ask Allah for forgiveness for the branch, since he was uncertain. Yes. Yes?