(Prayer of the Traveller- When and Hov,?
)
How is Qasr Salah prayed?
Qasr Satah apptia onty to the fard ot Ohur, Asr and Esha
The fard of fajr and Maghrib remain the same
The f'our rakat f'ard of Ohur, Asr and Esha are reduced to two
rakat each.
If a person is travetling. the travetter known as "Musaflr" can
combine two satat's if he has not reached the destination
The f'ard of Ohur and Asr (day-time prayers) can be combined
and prayed at time of Ohur or Asr
The f'ard ot Maghrib and Esha (night-time prayers) can be
combined and prayed at time of Maghrib or Esha
What is Qast Salah?
Qasr Salah atso known as the traveller prayer is one of the
"blessings" of AHah to make the Fard (obligatory) Salah ritual
easy for a traveHer
AHah SWT says in the Quran "And when you travel in the land,
there is no sin on you if you shorten your prayer.....
(Quran Surah 't Ayah 101)
Once Umar Jbn Khattab asked Prophet Mohammad (pbuh)
about this favour (blessing) of Allah, so Prophet (pbuh)
replied " This is a charity Allah SWT has given you, so accept
His charity <Sunnan Abu Oawud Vol 1, 1199)
The Qasr Salah is not mandatory, its optional but its a great
blessing from Allah SWT and itS a Sunnah so we should avail this
concession. We should be greatlul to Allah SWT for this
convenience during travel
Please Note : Qasr Salah is for travellers who are offering
individual Salah. II the traveller is praying in a Masjid or with
group of other residents, then he must follow the Imam and offer
lull Salah.
II a group of travellers are praying the Salah together they can
still offer the Qasr Salah
(Reference: Sahih Bukhari Book 20 Shortening the Prayers)
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Whe" does Qast Salah apply?
I) Distance
There are many opiniom ft-om scholars with regards to the
distance after which the Qasr Salah applies to the traveller
A hadith from Sahih Bukhari narrates that Ibn Umar(RA) and
Ibn Abbas(RA) reported to have offered Qasr Satah in a
journey of f'our Burud (approximatety 3 mites)
Some scholars say lf-8 miles, some say 55 miles but almost
agree to the tact that Qasr Salah commences once you leave
the city, town, village (or count~) of residence.
So in summary,Qasar Satah commences when you leave your
city, town or viUage
When does Qasr Salah apply?
2) Petiod
Here too the scholarly opinions differ, some say 15 days, some say 't
days, some say 19 days, some say it depends on the traveUer status (the
traveUer maybe on a business trip, he may not plan it but may have to
stay more than 't days or longer)
Once when the Prophet (pbuh) traveUed on an e)(pedition, he was out
of' Madina for 19 days and he shortened his prayer for the whole
period (Sahih Bukhari Vol 2 1082)
.So the most authentic and agreed upon period depends upon the
traveUer [Link],, if he has no residence in the place where he travels to
he is stilt a Musafir and can pray Qasr, but if he settles down there in
his own residence then he does not pray Qasr.
So in summary evaluate your situation, if' yoo have not se~ -....
\'J,-. ~ou are stilt a Musaf'ir ~~
~~ ---------- II7
Summary
[Link] Salah i.s a blessing (cha~) from Allah and is a Sunnah .so a traveller
should avail it and be greatful for it
The distance is the approximate border of you city, village or town (or
country) Once you cross the border, you avail the blessing of Qasr
The Number of days (period) depends on the traveller (Musalir) himself
and his situation. four days is a minimum period. then access your situation.
it not settled then pray [Link].
Qasr Salah is not mandatory, Its optional but avail it as a great blessing
from Allah SWT and as a sunnah of our Prophet (pbuh)
