What is the duration for which a traveler shortens his prayer?

Question:
The questioner, Hamzah from Madinah, asks: How long is the duration for which a traveler shortens his prayer? And how long did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) stay shortening his prayer on his journey to Makkah? Is it true that he stayed for ten days shortening his prayer during the journey?

Answer:
During the Farewell Pilgrimage, he stayed for ten days. He arrived on the morning of the fourth day and departed on the morning of the fourteenth, and he was shortening his prayer. However, the scholars derived from this that one shortens his prayer for four days; because he stayed from the fourth day until the eighth day, and then moved on to the rites of Hajj. So, if a traveler intends to stay for four days or more, he must complete his prayer. But if it is four days or less, he shortens it. And if he intends to stay for more than four days, completing the prayer is more cautious and better; because his other stays, in which he stayed, do not indicate a firm intention to stay, as he stayed in Tabuk for twenty days to observe the enemy. In that case, there is no firm intention that he intended to stay; he may not have intended to stay, but rather stayed for reasons regarding the enemy's situation.
The point is: Most scholars say: If one intends to stay for more than four days in a town, or in a residence, he completes his prayer. But if the stay is four days or less, there is no harm in shortening it. This is the opinion of the majority, and there is no blame. And if his stay is longer and he is a traveler and he shortens his prayer, there is no blame. But adhering to the opinion of the majority is more cautious and preferable. Yes.