A man went out traveling and the time for prayer came upon him before he left the built-up area; does he shorten the prayer?
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The Shaykh : After him?
The questioner : In the name of Allah, all praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the noblest of the prophets and messengers.
His EminenceThe Shaykh : A man left his home traveling, and the time for the 'Asr prayer came upon him before he left the built-up area or the district he was in; does he shorten the prayer or complete it?
The Shaykh : If the time for prayer comes upon a traveler while he is in his town, and he prays in his town, he does not shorten it, because he has not left. If he leaves and prays while on the road, he prays it as two rak'ahs, even if the adhan was called while he was in the town, because the criterion is the performance of the prayer. Similarly, if the time for prayer comes upon you while you are traveling and you arrive in the town before you pray, how many rak'ahs do you pray?
The student: Four.
The Shaykh : The time for prayer came upon you while you were traveling on the road, and then you arrived in your town; do you pray it as four rak'ahs or two?
The student: Four.
The Shaykh : Four. Likewise, if you travel after the adhan has been called, you leave the town and pray on the road, then you pray two rak'ahs.
So the rule is that the criterion is what? It is the performance of the prayer. If you perform it while traveling, you shorten it; if you perform it while resident, you complete it.
The questioner : In the name of Allah, all praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the noblest of the prophets and messengers.
His EminenceThe Shaykh : A man left his home traveling, and the time for the 'Asr prayer came upon him before he left the built-up area or the district he was in; does he shorten the prayer or complete it?
The Shaykh : If the time for prayer comes upon a traveler while he is in his town, and he prays in his town, he does not shorten it, because he has not left. If he leaves and prays while on the road, he prays it as two rak'ahs, even if the adhan was called while he was in the town, because the criterion is the performance of the prayer. Similarly, if the time for prayer comes upon you while you are traveling and you arrive in the town before you pray, how many rak'ahs do you pray?
The student: Four.
The Shaykh : The time for prayer came upon you while you were traveling on the road, and then you arrived in your town; do you pray it as four rak'ahs or two?
The student: Four.
The Shaykh : Four. Likewise, if you travel after the adhan has been called, you leave the town and pray on the road, then you pray two rak'ahs.
So the rule is that the criterion is what? It is the performance of the prayer. If you perform it while traveling, you shorten it; if you perform it while resident, you complete it.