The duration for which a traveler shortens his prayer

Question:
I traveled to a non-Muslim country for a business visit. Sometimes I would combine the midday and afternoon prayers by delaying them, and the sunset and night prayers by delaying them. Sometimes I would combine the afternoon with the midday by delaying them, and the night with the sunset likewise. Sometimes I would pray the midday and afternoon before the sun set, and the sunset and night in the middle of the night. This was for reasons such as being outside the hotel, where it is difficult to find a place to pray, and also because I did not know the exact prayer times in those lands. Please inform us of the ruling on this, may Allah reward you with good?

Answer:
If the traveler to a certain country does not have the intention to stay for a specific duration, but is seeking a need, or seeking a person, or seeking a commodity, and does not know when his stay will end; then he may shorten the midday prayer to two units, the afternoon to two units, and the night to two units. He may combine the sunset and night prayers in the time of one of them, and the midday and afternoon in the time of one of them. He is not allowed to delay them beyond the time of the second one. He is not allowed to delay the sunset and night prayers until after the middle of the night, ever. Rather, it is obligatory that it be before the middle of the night, even if he prays on the road. Likewise, the midday and afternoon are not delayed until the sun turns yellow. It is obligatory to combine them before the sun turns yellow, in the time of the afternoon prayer, if he did not advance them to the time of the midday prayer.
As for if he has a specific stay of more than four days; then the majority of the scholars hold that he completes the prayer if he firmly intends to stay for more than four days. The majority of the scholars hold that he completes it as four units, and does not pray two units, and does not shorten in this case. Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) shortened the prayer for four days, and that was during the Farewell Pilgrimage, which was his last journey (peace and blessings be upon him). The default for the resident is completion, and for the traveler is shortening. So if he stays for more than four days; he is a resident, and completes it as four units; to avoid the disagreement of the scholars.
Some of them said: The limit of residence is fifteen days. And some said: Nineteen days. But what the majority hold is that it is four days or less. So if he intends to stay for more than that, he completes the prayer. As long as he is hesitating, and does not know whether he will stay for three days, or two, or ten, or twenty, and he has no certainty; then he prays the prayer of the traveler, and combines the combination of the traveler. But he does not exceed the second time. He does not exceed the night and sunset prayers beyond the middle of the night, and he does not delay the midday and afternoon until the sun turns yellow... as the Sunnah explained from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)... That is sufficient. We ask Allah for success, guidance, rectification of intention, and righteous action.