How to shorten salah when travelling?

 

                            How to Shorten Salah (Qasr)

When traveling, Islam provides flexibility in performing Salah (prayers) to accommodate the challenges of being on the move. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to shorten Salah while traveling, with proofs from the Quran and Hadith, and a story of the Sahaba (companions of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him).

1). Permissibility:

•  Proof from the Quran: Allah says in the Quran, "And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer..." (Surah An-Nisa, 4:101).

•  Proof from Hadith: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "This is a charity that Allah, the Exalted, has bestowed upon you, so accept His charity" (Sahih Muslim).

2). Which Prayers to Shorten:

•  Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha: These prayers, which normally consist of 4 Rakats, are shortened to 2 Rakats each.

•  Fajr and Maghrib: These prayers remain unchanged, with Fajr being 2 Rakats and Maghrib being 3 Rakats.

3). Conditions for Shortening Salah:

•  Distance: The journey should be at least 77 kilometers (approximately 48 miles) away from home.

•  Duration: The stay at the destination should be less than 15 days. If the stay exceeds this period, the traveler should perform the full prayers.

Combining Prayers:

1. Combining Dhuhr and Asr:

•  Method: Perform Dhuhr and Asr together, either during Dhuhr time (Jama' Taqdim) or Asr time (Jama' Ta'khir).

 

2. Combining Maghrib and Isha:

•  Method: Perform Maghrib and Isha together, either during Maghrib time (Jama' Taqdim) or Isha time (Jama' Ta'khir).

Story of the Sahaba:

During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the companions (Sahaba) often traveled with him and observed the practice of shortening and combining prayers. One notable instance is when Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "I accompanied the Prophet (peace be upon him) in travel, and he never exceeded two units of prayer. Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman (may Allah be pleased with them) also did the same" (Sahih al-Bukhari).

Conclusion:

Shortening and combining prayers while traveling is a concession granted by Allah to ease the burden on travelers. This practice is rooted in the teachings of the Holy Quran and Hadith, ensuring that the obligations of Salah are maintained even during travel.