Rulings on Shortening and Combining Prayers During Travel
The rulings regarding shortening prayers differ from those concerning the combining of prayers while traveling. Shortening of prayers is an established Sunnah for travelers, as evidenced by several hadiths indicating that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) consistently shortened his prayers during his journeys. Therefore, it is imperative for a Muslim not to neglect the shortening of prayers while traveling, as it is a practice that is strongly emphasized, unless he is praying behind an Imam who is completing the prayer. This is because congregational prayer is obligatory for both travelers and residents. In contrast, combining prayers is not an established Sunnah, but it is permissible while traveling. Ideally, a Muslim should perform each prayer at its designated time and avoid combining them, unless refraining from doing so would cause undue hardship. In such scenarios, combining prayers becomes preferable, and a traveler may choose to combine their prayers at times while opting not to do so on other occasions.
Legitimacy of Shortening Prayer for Travelers
Travelers are permitted to shorten the four-unit prayers by offering two units for the midday (Dhuhr), afternoon (Asr), and evening (Isha) prayers. However, the two-unit Fajr prayer and the three-unit Maghrib prayer should not be shortened and must be prayed in full. To qualify for the shortening of prayers, the traveler must leave their homeland and exit from populated areas, with the intention of staying in the destination for less than four days. If the stay exceeds four days, the traveler must complete their prayers without shortening them. If the duration of stay is uncertain, the traveler is allowed to shorten their prayers even if their stay exceeds four days, as they are still considered a traveler in such cases. Additionally, for shortening to be applicable, the traveler should pray individually or with fellow travelers. However, if a traveler prays with an Imam or a congregation consisting of residents, they are required to complete their prayers as four units.
Distance Permitting Shortening of Prayer
Scholars have differing opinions on the travel distance that permits the shortening of prayers. Some scholars define it as 83 kilometers, while others maintain that any distance generally recognized as travel by the public qualifies for this concession, even if it is less than 83 kilometers. This is supported by the fact that Allah did not specify a distance in His Book, as indicated in the verse: “And when you travel in the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer.” Here, ‘traveling in the land’ refers to the act of journeying and is stated without a specified distance in the holy verse.