15. The Book of Shortening the Prayer When Traveling

【1】

It was narrated that Ya'la bin Umayyah said: "I said to 'Umar bin Al-Khattab: 'There is no sin on you if you shorten salah and if you fear that the disbelievers may put you in trial (attack you). But now the people are safe.' 'Umar said: 'I wondered the same thing, so I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about that and he said: This is a favor from Allah (SWT) to you, so accept His favor." It was narrated from Umayyah bin 'Abdullah bin Khalid that: He said to 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: "We find (mention of) prayer when one is at home (i.e., not traveling) and prayer at times of fear in the Qur'an, but we do not find any mention in the Qur'an of prayer when traveling. Ibn Umar said to him: 'O son of my brother, Allah (SWT) send Muhammad (ﷺ) to us when we did not know anything, and all we should do is to do that which we saw Muhammad (ﷺ) doing.'" It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) set out from Makkah to Al-Madinah, fearing nothing but the Lord of the worlds, and praying two rak'ahs. It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said: "We used to travel with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) between Makkah and Al-Madinah, fearing nothing but Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, and praying two rak'ahs." It was narrated that Ibn Al-Simt said: "I saw 'Umar bin Al-Khattab praying two rak'ahs in Dhul-Hulaifah and I asked him about that. He said: 'I am simply doing that which I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) doing.'" It was narrated that Anas said: "I went out with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) from Al-Madinah to Mekkah, and he continued to shorten his prayers, and he stayed there for ten days." It was narrated that 'Abdullah said: "I prayed two rak'ahs with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey, and two rak'ahs with Abu Bakr, and two rak'ahs with 'Umar, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with them both." It was narrated that 'Umar said: "The prayer for jumu'ah is two rak'ahs, and for Al-Fitr is two rak'ahs, and for An-Nahr is two rak'ahs, and for traveling is two rak'ahs, complete and not shortened, on the tongue of the Prophet (ﷺ)." It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said: "The prayer of the resident was enjoined on the tongue of your Prophet (ﷺ), four (rak'ahs), and the prayer of the traveler is two rak'ahs, and the prayer of fear is one rak'ah." It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said: "Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, enjoined the prayer on the tongue of your Prophet (ﷺ): While a resident four (rak'ahs), while traveling two, and at times of fear one."

【2】

Prayer in Makkah

It was narrated that Qatadah said: "I heard Muas- bin Salamah-say: 'I said to Ibn 'Abbas: How should I pray in Makkah if I do not pray in congregation? He said: Two rak'ahs, the sunnah of Abu Al-Qasim.'" Musa bin Salamah narrated that he asked Ibn 'Abbas: "I missed the prayer in congregation when I was in Al-Batha; how do you think I should pray?" He said: "Two rak'ahs, the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)."

【3】

Prayer in Mina

It was narrated that Harithah bin Wahab Al-Khuza'i said: "I prayed two rak'ahs with the Prophet (ﷺ) in Mina when the people were more secure and greater in number." It was narrated that Harithah bin Wahab said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in prayer in Mina, two rak'ahs, when the people were greater in number and more secure." It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that he said: "I prayed two rak'ahs with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in Mina, and with Abu Bakr and 'Umar, and two rak'ahs with 'Uthman at the beginning of his Caliphate." It was narrated that 'Abdullah (ﷺ) said: "I prayed two rak'ahs in Mina with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)." It was narrated that 'Abdur-Rahman bin Yazid said: "Uthman prayer four (rak'ahs) in Mina until news of that reached 'Abdullah who said: 'I prayed two rak'ahs with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).'" It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "I prayed two rak'ahs with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in Mina, and two rak'ahs with Abu Bakr, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with him, and two rak'ahs with Umar, may Allah (ﷺ) be pleased with him." 'Ubaidullah bin 'Abdullah bin Umar narrated that: His father said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed two rak'ahs in Mina, and Abu Bakr prayed two rak'ahs, and Umar prayed two rak'ahs, and Uthman prayed (two rak'ahs) at the beginning of his Khilafah."

【4】

The length of stay during which prayers may be shortened

It was narrated from Yahya bin Abi Ishaq that : Anas bin Malik said: " We went out with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) from Al-Madinah to Makkah and he used to lead us in praying two rak'ahs until we came back." I (Yahya) said: "Did he stay in Makkah?" He (Anas) said: "Yes, we stayed there for ten days." It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stayed in Makkah (for fifteen days), praying each prayer with two rak'ahs. Al-'Ala bin Al-Hadrami said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'The Muhajir may stay for three days after completing his rituals.'" It was narrated that Al-'Ala bin Al-Hadrami said: "The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The Muhajir may stay for three days after his rituals.'" It was narrated from 'Aishah that: She performed Umrah with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), traveling from Al-Madinah to Makkah. Then, when she came to Makkah, she said: "O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), may my father and mother be ransomed for you, you shortened you prayers and I offered them in full, you did not fast and I fasted. He said: 'Well done, O 'Aishah!' and he did not criticize me."

【5】

Not performing voluntary prayers while traveling

Wabarah bin Abdur-Rahman said: "Ibn 'Umar did not offer more than two rak'ahs when traveling, and he did not offer any prayer before or after that. It was said to him: 'What is this?' He said: 'This is what I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) doing.'" 'Eisa bin Hafs bin 'Asim said: "My father told me: 'I was with Ibn Umar on a journey, and he prayed Zuhr and 'Asr with two rak'ahs each, then he went and sat on his carpet. He saw some people offering voluntary prayers and said: What are these people doing? I said: They are offering voluntary prayers. He said: If I had wanted to pray before and after (the obligatory prayer) I would have offered it in full. I accompanied the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he did not pray more than two rak'ahs when traveling, and Abu Bakr (did likewise) until he died, as did 'Umar and 'Uthman, may Allah (SWT) be pleased with them all."