Ruling on the Friday prayer for the traveler
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
Is the Friday prayer waived for the traveler? And is there a specific duration of travel after which a person is considered a resident?
Answer:
The traveler is not obligated to perform the Friday prayer, but if he attends it, it suffices for him. If he passes through a town and prays with them, it suffices for him; otherwise, he is not obligated to do so. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed the midday prayer on the Day of 'Arafah during the Farewell Pilgrimage, which was a Friday, and he did not pray the Friday prayer because he was a traveler. He prayed it as the midday prayer. He used to pray the midday prayer during his travels and did not pray the Friday prayer.
The duration that prevents a person from shortening the prayer and obligates him to perform the Friday prayer is four days. If he intends to stay for more than four days, he must pray the Friday prayer and pray the full number of rak'ahs. This is the position of the majority of scholars. If he enters a town and intends to stay for more than four days, with a firm resolve to do so for a need in the town, then the Friday prayer becomes obligatory for him, following the ruling for others, and he must pray four rak'ahs. However, if his intention is for four days or less, he prays two rak'ahs. But he is obligated to pray in congregation if he is with no one else. If he is alone, he does not pray alone; he prays with the people in congregation, because congregation is obligatory. So he prays in congregation with his brothers and prays four rak'ahs, because a traveler who prays with residents prays four rak'ahs with them. As for if they are a group of two or more, they have a choice: if they wish, they may pray alone, shortening the prayer, and if they wish, they may pray with the congregation, praying four rak'ahs. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. So, what is the Shaykh's view regarding those who say that a traveler, even if he stays for more than four days?
Answer: It is a weaker position, yes. There is disagreement among scholars on this. Some specify fifteen days, some scholars specify nineteen days, some specify more than that, and some do not specify a limit.
The closest and most apparent view is what the majority said—may Allah have mercy on them—the majority being that the limit is more than four days. If he intends to stay for more than four days, the ruling for a resident applies to him, which is to pray four rak'ahs. This is the default ruling. The default ruling for a traveler is to pray two rak'ahs. Whoever stays longer, the ruling of residence prevails over him; the ruling of residence prevails over him. Also, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stayed for four days during the Farewell Pilgrimage, he prayed two rak'ahs. This indicates that four days does not... [invalidate] the ruling of travel, because he arrived on the fourth day of Dhul-Hijjah and did not pray two rak'ahs until he headed to Mina and 'Arafah, peace and blessings be upon him.
The presenter: O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad. May Allah reward you with good.
Is the Friday prayer waived for the traveler? And is there a specific duration of travel after which a person is considered a resident?
Answer:
The traveler is not obligated to perform the Friday prayer, but if he attends it, it suffices for him. If he passes through a town and prays with them, it suffices for him; otherwise, he is not obligated to do so. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed the midday prayer on the Day of 'Arafah during the Farewell Pilgrimage, which was a Friday, and he did not pray the Friday prayer because he was a traveler. He prayed it as the midday prayer. He used to pray the midday prayer during his travels and did not pray the Friday prayer.
The duration that prevents a person from shortening the prayer and obligates him to perform the Friday prayer is four days. If he intends to stay for more than four days, he must pray the Friday prayer and pray the full number of rak'ahs. This is the position of the majority of scholars. If he enters a town and intends to stay for more than four days, with a firm resolve to do so for a need in the town, then the Friday prayer becomes obligatory for him, following the ruling for others, and he must pray four rak'ahs. However, if his intention is for four days or less, he prays two rak'ahs. But he is obligated to pray in congregation if he is with no one else. If he is alone, he does not pray alone; he prays with the people in congregation, because congregation is obligatory. So he prays in congregation with his brothers and prays four rak'ahs, because a traveler who prays with residents prays four rak'ahs with them. As for if they are a group of two or more, they have a choice: if they wish, they may pray alone, shortening the prayer, and if they wish, they may pray with the congregation, praying four rak'ahs. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. So, what is the Shaykh's view regarding those who say that a traveler, even if he stays for more than four days?
Answer: It is a weaker position, yes. There is disagreement among scholars on this. Some specify fifteen days, some scholars specify nineteen days, some specify more than that, and some do not specify a limit.
The closest and most apparent view is what the majority said—may Allah have mercy on them—the majority being that the limit is more than four days. If he intends to stay for more than four days, the ruling for a resident applies to him, which is to pray four rak'ahs. This is the default ruling. The default ruling for a traveler is to pray two rak'ahs. Whoever stays longer, the ruling of residence prevails over him; the ruling of residence prevails over him. Also, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stayed for four days during the Farewell Pilgrimage, he prayed two rak'ahs. This indicates that four days does not... [invalidate] the ruling of travel, because he arrived on the fourth day of Dhul-Hijjah and did not pray two rak'ahs until he headed to Mina and 'Arafah, peace and blessings be upon him.
The presenter: O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad. May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.