Shortening the Prayer in Travel

Q: We ask for clarification on the issue of shortening the prayer (shortening the prayer in travel). Is it established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he completed the prayer while traveling? And does the prayer in travel depend on distance and duration? We ask for clarification of these questions with evidence from the Book and the Sunnah. May Allah reward you with good.

A: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he traveled, would pray the midday prayer as two units, the afternoon prayer as two units, and the night prayer as two units, until he returned from his journey. This is what is preserved from him (peace and blessings be upon him). It is also narrated from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he would sometimes shorten and sometimes complete the prayer, but this is not preserved from him (peace and blessings be upon him). What is preserved from him in the authentic hadiths is that he would shorten the prayer while traveling until he returned. As for the sunset prayer, he would pray it as three units, whether traveling or resident, and likewise the dawn prayer, he would pray it as two units, whether traveling or resident. He would also pray the two light units of the Sunnah before the dawn prayer, whether traveling or resident. As for the Sunnah of the midday, afternoon, sunset, and night prayers, he would leave them off while traveling (peace and blessings be upon him).
Therefore, the believer should do what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do while traveling. Travel, according to the scholars, is a distance that takes a day and a night to cover, meaning two stages. This is the position of the majority of scholars. This is estimated at approximately eighty kilometers for one traveling by car, and likewise by airplane, ship, or boat. This distance, or something close to it, is called travel and is considered travel by custom, as this is what is known among Muslims. If a person travels by camel, on foot, by car, by airplane, or by sea vessel, this distance or more makes him a traveler. Some scholars said that it is defined by custom and not by a distance measured in kilometers; whatever is considered travel by custom is called travel and is shortened, and whatever is not is not. The correct view is what the majority of scholars established, which is defining it by the distance mentioned. This is the position of most scholars, and one should adhere to it, as this is what came from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them and grant them satisfaction), who are the most knowledgeable people regarding the religion of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).