What is the duration for which it is prescribed to shorten the prayer?
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Question:
We move on to another letter from our brother listeners. This is a letter from the listener Samir Muhammad Mahmoud Uthman, an Egyptian residing in Iraq. He has two questions. In his first question, he asks: Is it permissible for a person to shorten the prayer for a period of three days, or is there a specific duration regarding the shortening of the prayer?
Answer:
The traveler shortens the prayer for four days, according to the correct opinion stated by the majority of scholars, if he intends to stay for four days or less. That is, if he intends to reside, with certainty, for four days or less in any location during his journey. For example, if he travels to Iraq for a need and intends to reside in Iraq, in Baghdad, or in Basra, or similar, for four days or less, he may shorten the prayer. He prays the four-rak'ah prayers as two: Zuhr as two, 'Asr as two, and 'Isha' as two.
As for if the intention is for more than that, and he intends to reside for five days or ten days, he prays four rak'ahs. This is because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stayed for four days during the Farewell Pilgrimage, shortening the prayer in Makkah during the Farewell Pilgrimage. He arrived on the fourth of Dhul-Hijjah and proceeded to Mina on the eighth, so his stay was four days, and he was shortening the prayer (peace and blessings be upon him). So, if his stay is like the stay of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Makkah, he shortens the prayer.
As for if he stays for a long period, five days, meaning more than four days, then if he intends to stay that long, he prays four rak'ahs. Likewise, regarding incidental stays on the road, while he is a traveler, he shortens the prayer for one day, two days, or three days on the road. Whenever he stays, he shortens and prays two rak'ahs.
As for combining Zuhr and 'Asr, and Maghrib and 'Isha', it is better to leave it if he is residing. However, if he has a need to combine, he combines, and praise be to Allah. Or if the stay is brief, he stops at a place of brief residence, then departs after the sun has passed its zenith, he combines Zuhr and 'Asr by advancing them. Or if he departs before the sun sets, he delays Maghrib with 'Isha' by postponing them. Or if he departs before the sun passes its zenith, he delays Zuhr with 'Asr by postponing them; because it is more convenient for him, and there is no harm in that. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
We move on to another letter from our brother listeners. This is a letter from the listener Samir Muhammad Mahmoud Uthman, an Egyptian residing in Iraq. He has two questions. In his first question, he asks: Is it permissible for a person to shorten the prayer for a period of three days, or is there a specific duration regarding the shortening of the prayer?
Answer:
The traveler shortens the prayer for four days, according to the correct opinion stated by the majority of scholars, if he intends to stay for four days or less. That is, if he intends to reside, with certainty, for four days or less in any location during his journey. For example, if he travels to Iraq for a need and intends to reside in Iraq, in Baghdad, or in Basra, or similar, for four days or less, he may shorten the prayer. He prays the four-rak'ah prayers as two: Zuhr as two, 'Asr as two, and 'Isha' as two.
As for if the intention is for more than that, and he intends to reside for five days or ten days, he prays four rak'ahs. This is because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stayed for four days during the Farewell Pilgrimage, shortening the prayer in Makkah during the Farewell Pilgrimage. He arrived on the fourth of Dhul-Hijjah and proceeded to Mina on the eighth, so his stay was four days, and he was shortening the prayer (peace and blessings be upon him). So, if his stay is like the stay of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in Makkah, he shortens the prayer.
As for if he stays for a long period, five days, meaning more than four days, then if he intends to stay that long, he prays four rak'ahs. Likewise, regarding incidental stays on the road, while he is a traveler, he shortens the prayer for one day, two days, or three days on the road. Whenever he stays, he shortens and prays two rak'ahs.
As for combining Zuhr and 'Asr, and Maghrib and 'Isha', it is better to leave it if he is residing. However, if he has a need to combine, he combines, and praise be to Allah. Or if the stay is brief, he stops at a place of brief residence, then departs after the sun has passed its zenith, he combines Zuhr and 'Asr by advancing them. Or if he departs before the sun sets, he delays Maghrib with 'Isha' by postponing them. Or if he departs before the sun passes its zenith, he delays Zuhr with 'Asr by postponing them; because it is more convenient for him, and there is no harm in that. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.