Shortening prayers during traveling

[Heba E. Husseyn]

 


WHAT DOES THE NOBLE QURAN SAY?

First let us focus on what the Noble Quran says about shortening or curtailing salat.

"And when ye go forth in the land, it is no sin for you to curtail (your) worship if ye fear that those who disbelieve may attack you. In truth the disbelievers are an open enemy to you."  (4:101).

" ........ and let them take their precaution and their arms. Those who disbelieve long for you to neglect your arms and your baggage that they may attack you once for all. ......"  (4:102).

"When ye have performed the act of worship, remember Allah, standing, sitting and reclining. And when ye are in safety, observe proper worship. Worship at fixed times hath been enjoined on the believers."  (4:103).

From the above verses it is absolutely clear that shortening of prayers is only allowed during extraordinary situations while traveling when one is facing the threat or danger of being attacked by their enemies.  Such a situation existed in various periods during the Prophet's lifetime.  It has existed for believers in different eras of history and it also exists now in certain countries / communities at specific times when they have been deprived of peace and are in a state of war, civil war or simply vandalism in a lawless society.  Therefore shortening of prayers during traveling is NOT a rule in normal and peaceful circumstances.

WHAT DOES THE HADITH SAY?

Our so-called scholars have overlooked the aspect plainly explained in the Quran in preference to the illogical tales of Hadith.  According to the ruling of modern imams and "ulemas," even if someone is traveling on a sightseeing vacation, they can shorten their prayers during traveling and after reaching their destination.   Beware!  This is a wrong and misguided idea intended to distract people from prayers with more time for fun and enjoyment during traveling and vacationing.
 
Hadith says prayer can be shortened anytime while traveling and even after reaching the destination.   Shortening of prayers in Hadith is referred to as Salaat -ul-Qasr (or traveler's prayer), a concept that is largely not compatible with the Noble Quran.   Hadith Bukhari contains a separate chapter on shortening prayer.

There is an unanimous consensus amongst all the scholars of Islam that a traveler who is undertaking a legitimate journey may shorten the four-unit prayers to two. But the difference of opinion remains between scholars and various schools of thought (madhabs) as to what constitutes 'travel' for offering Qasr prayers. The issues concerning this stem from aspects:

-  the distance traveled and
-  the number of days of stay for which Qasr salaat is valid

There are deep differences of opinion concerning the number of days of travel required for shortening prayers.   As usual, different hadith narrations differ on this issue creating the old joke of Hadith contradicting Hadith.   The senseless wrangling goes on today among the imams and so-called scholars throwing their poor naive disciples in a maze of confusion while traveling during normal times when travelers face no threats of attacks whatsoever.

Let us check the following Hadith narrated by Anas contained in the collection of al-Muslim.

Narrated Anas  “when the Prophet PBUH went out on a journey of three miles or three Farasikh, he used to pray two Raka’at,” [Muslim]

Farasikh is the plural of Farasakh. It is a measure of distance in Persian. One Farasakh is approximately equal to three miles.  Therefore there's a big difference between 'mile' and 'farasakh.'  So this hadith doesn't make sense.  It should either be "miles" or "farasakhs" .. it cannot be 'either / or.'   

Two other points can be perceived from this Hadith of Sahih al-Muslim:

-  The infiltration of Persian words through those newly converted Zoroastrian Persian imams who started the culture of writing hadiths.
-  Secondly, this false hadith has apparently been further tampered by some Arab or non-Persian after being fabricated by Muslim bin Hajaj.   Being a non-Persian, that person who tampered with it later didn't know the meaning of 'farasakh,' thinking that it means the same as 'mile.'  Thus the visible blunder.
 
Other nonsensical hadiths announcing to curtail prayers during traveling in normal conditions are as follows:

Hadith Bukhari chapter 24 'shortening of prayer' :
1030. It is related that Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and
grant him peace, once stayed somewhere for nineteen days during which he shortened the prayers. So when we traveled somewhere for nineteen days we would shorten the prayer but if we stayed longer we would do the full prayer."

1035.  Ibn Abbas:  The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, called traveling a day and a night a journey. Ibn 'Abbas used to shorten the prayer and break the fast for a distance of four burud (postal stages) which is sixteen farsakhs.

1038.  Abu Huraira:  You can shorten the prayer when you have left the place you live

The Prophet PBUH used to shorten his prayer during travel and never prayed any four-unit prayer while in a state of travel. (Ibn Taymiyya, Majmūʾ al-Fatāwā, 24/8).

Needless to mention, all of the above Hadiths are a bunch of solid trash!   Not even worth anyone's time.

HADITH DISALLOWING WOMEN TO TRAVEL WITHOUT A 'MEHRAM'

I guess everyone knows the Hadith restrictions on not allowing women to travel alone without a mehram beyond a certain number of days.  Let us proceed ahead and observe the remarkable contradiction between different collections of Hadith and also within the same collection. 

"It is not allowed for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day that she travel for a distance of three days without her father, son, husband, brother or any mahram.” [Sahih Muslim]

“It is not allowed for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day that she travels for a distance of two days without a mahram.” [Sahih Muslim]

“It is not allowed for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day that she travels for a distance of one day without a mahram.” [Bukhārī]

THREE days, TWO days and ONE day.   Incredible dopes!  It's hard to imagine how much confusion this has created between Hadithists who strictly follow these careless jokers.   It has particularly caused immense squabbling between the different schools like malikis, shafis, hanibalis etc., each making their own picks and denouncing the others.

FATWAS FORBIDDING PRAYERS IN MOVING VEHICLES

Lastly, there is also a notion coming from certain fatwas that prayers can be omitted while you are in a moving vehicle or carrier e.g. car, air plane, train etc.   The reason why they say this is the excuse that we cannot be sure of facing the Qibla while we are constantly moving.  Again, this is a completely incorrect and false notion.   The concept of the qibla in the Noble Quran is symbolic for the Muslim prayer. In normal circumstances we face the Qibla, that's fine. But in extra ordinary situations, not being able to face the Qibla or not knowing in which direction the Qibla is situated, is not a proper reason to skip prayer altogether .. particularly if the desire to pray is there in one's heart. And how can the desire to pray not be there in the heart of a believer? Not just the whole world but the entire universe belongs to Allah. No matter which direction we turn, Allah can see us and accept our expression of love for him and our commitment to our prayers concerning Him, as long as we are sincere to HIM alone. 

"Unto Allah belong the East and the West, and whithersoever ye turn, there is Allah's Countenance. Lo! Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing." (2:114).

Prayer to Allah is the biggest act of freedom of the human heart. It can be offered anywhere, any time.  Prayer comes from the heart.  It is our desire to get close to Allah, to communicate with him and to soothe ourselves. A soul filled with love for Allah and desirous to pray will have no problem praying anywhere. Most importantly, no power on earth can stop such a soul from praying. Even if one is denied the information of the Qibla, denied water for ablution, denied a prayer mat etc. yet no one can take away the sincerity and eagerness of their heart to reach out to Allah.  Prayers are primarily judged from one's intentions of loyalty towards Allah alone. The only obstacle for prayer is if the heart itself gets corrupted. That is when a soul can be disallowed to pray.

CONCLUSION

Alhumdulilah. People try to restrict the Love, Mercy and Bounty of Allah for His devoted slaves by making up their own rules based on man-written books, sermons, fatwas etc. But Allah Himself refutes all such incorrect thoughts and asserts that His generosity and reward for His sincere slaves are infinite, limitless.

"And the bounty of thy Lord can never be walled up." (17:20).

MAY ALLAH ALMIGHTY GRANT US GUIDANCE AND KEEP US SAFE FROM ALL MISGUIDANCE AND BID'AH.   AMEEN.

[Zainab_M]

Very beautifully and comprehensively explained sister.  Thank you and Allah bless you.  I was discussing this topic with a relative some months ago.  She was confused because some of her friends were saying that it's obligatory to shorten prayers during traveling and after reaching the destination even if it's a pleasure trip.  She mentioned that someone also told her that if we don't shorten our prayers it is "kufr."  It's strange that violating the Quran isn't kufr for them, but adhering to the Quran by discarding human whims is looked upon as "kufr"  .... a very common mindset.  Hence Allah states:  "If you obeyed most of those on earth they would mislead you far from Allah's way."  (6:116).

[muslima]

 


Be guardians of your prayers, and of the midmost prayer, and stand up with devotion to Allah.2:238
 
 
And if ye go in fear, then (pray) standing or on horseback. And when ye are again in safety, remember Allah, as He hath taught you that which (heretofore) ye knew not.2:239[/b]


pray on foot,or riding, (as may be most convenient) but Guard strictly your prayers


 Jazak Allah khair !!MashAllah sis heba u have rightly stated everything I too agree entirely .In light of ur quoted guidance of the Quran it is Clearly state the condition (element of danger) for shortening of prayers when travelling. But sadly people shorten the prayers even when going on holiday.They reason that prophet (Pbuh) used to shorten the prayers when travelling. NOO he was involved in several wars and enemies are always around him during his life time he surly didn't as hadith making mockery in deen But The commands of Quran cannot be changed by falsely attributed to the beloved  Prophet (pbuh).It is permissible in danger only it is clear in quran if u are in danger but when one is free from danger that they are expected to set up regular prayers,When one is secure, one must pray as normal..shortening prayer without in the state of Quranic condition ( fear the enemy ) only for the temporal problems is equal to shortening the communication with Allah without any valid reason funfull /relex holidays Or enjoyable traveling is NOt valid excuse for shortening prayers .unfortunately This literature has completely ruined ummah   

Allah bless u and reward u dear sister  ameen

[Ruhi_Rose]

Yes, this is a great clarification.  I've also been hearing from Hadithers that you can shorten prayers during traveling.  Although the Quran is so clear on its condition that prayers can only be shortened during times of war and danger, yet the Hadithers think that even if you are traveling on holidays from London to Dubai you should still shorten your prayers.  I have a cousin who is the 'black sheep of our family    I mean, most of my relatives agree with following only the Quran, but this cousin is one of the few who is a Hadither.  He claims that not shortening prayers during travels is "kufr-e-nemat" or something similar he mentioned.   It's surprising that these dumbos don't consider it kufr to overlook the rules of the Noble Quran, but to overlook man-written laws based on whims becomes "kufr" for them. 

[N. Truth Seeker]

Shortening prayers is not for normal travel conditions.  I think Hadith narrators and compilers were themselves too lazy and didn't want to offer prayers while traveling so they came up with this rule completely overlooking the contents of the Quran.  I don't think they even ever read those verses of the Quran quoted here that clearly define the conditions for shortening prayers.  For example, there is war and massacre going on in Syria and Myanmar.  Let's take instance of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.  They are constantly being hunted down and killed by the buddhist kufar.  So when these people are fleeing their homes and trying to run out of the country through jungles and the woods, they can shorten their prayers because the enemy might be following them and if the enemy finds them will kill them.  It goes without saying that this is very different from normal travels such as vacations or business trips etc.   By writing such Hadiths and calling it "kufr -e-nemat" if you don't follow it means Hadith is preventing people from praying. 

[Ruhi_Rose]

Very true brother .. that's a very apt example.