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101- AND IF YOU TRAVEL THROUGH THE EARTH, THERE IS NO BLAME UPON YOU IF YOU SHORTEN THE SALAH, IF YOU FEAR THE DISBELIEVERS TO HURT YOU, FOR THE DISBELIEVERS ARE YOUR CLEAR ENEMIES.

In this Ayah, Allah the Highest gives the Muslims a license to pray the 4 Rakaa Salah, Zohr, Asr and Esha to two Rakaa.  The original license was in case of fear, which means while the Muslims were travelling and in the mean time fearing their enemies at times of war. 

This license expanded later to include times of peace, as Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him prayed Qasr (short) while travelling in peace time and not fearing an enemy.

A Muslim man asked Omar Ibn El-Khatab: “AND IF YOU TRAVEL THROUGH THE EARTH, THERE IS NO BLAME UPON YOU IF YOU SHORTEN THE SALAH, IF YOU FEAR THE DISBELIEVERS TO HURT YOU” but now people are safe?  Omar said: “I was surprised of what surprised you, and I asked Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him, he said: “A charity Allah has given you, accept His charity”. (M: Mosafreen; 4 & N: Safar; 1)

The licenses Allah the Highest gives us are charities from Him in making it easier to worship.  There are many such licenses, of them:

-         Praying more than one Salah together while travelling.

-         Praying standing, sitting or lying down if sick.

-         Tayamom if there is no water of serious shortage of water.

-         Not fasting when sick or pregnant or breast feeding or during menses and after child birth. 

These are just some of the licenses Allah the Highest has given the Muslims.

The minimal distance travelling to shorten the Salah:

Anas Ibn Malik, Allah’s messenger’s companion who was close serving him was asked about this, he said: “Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him would pray two Rakaa if he went out 3 miles or nautical miles (the narrator or the Hadith was not certain).  (M: Musafreen; 12)

In another Hadith, a Muslim man called Jobir Ibn Nofir said: “I went with Shorhobil Ibn El-Samet to a village about 17-18 miles away, and he prayed two Rakaa.  I commented on this, he said: “I do what I saw Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him do”.  (M: Musafreen; 13)

Perhaps the principle is that once a person left home and intends to travel, once he is out of his home town, he can pray Qasr (short). 

The Maximum period one is allowed to pray Qasr (short):

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him prayed Qasr for 20 days he and the Muslim army stayed in Tabouk.  Ibn Abas Reported: “Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him stayed in Tabouk shortening the Salah”.  (A: 3; 295 & B; Taqseer; 1)

And also he shortened the Salah for 10 days in Makah.  Anas Ibn Malik said: “We went with Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him from Medina to Makah, and he prayed two Rakaa in each Salah (except Magreb) until he went back to Medina.  He was asked: “How long did you stay in Makah?”  He said: “We stayed there for 10 days”.  (B: Taqseer, 1)

We should note two things: 

1-    Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him prayed short while travelling to the place and back.

2-    Makah used to be his home town, but as he migrated to Medina, he prayed short when he went to Makah.

Allah’s messenger’s companions prayed Qasr (short) for a number of months, when they travelled away to the north in Asia, when snow prevented them travelling back. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him did not state the maximum time for praying Qasr.

Praying Two Fard Salah together while travelling:

Anas Ibn Malik reported: “When Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him hurried while travelling, he used to delay Zohr to the beginning of the time for Asr, then pray them together, and delay Magreb to pray it with Esha when it is dark”.  (M; Musafreen; 48)

It is therefore permitted for the traveller to pray short as well as pray Zohr and Asr together, as well as Magreb and Esha together, either Zohr with Asr or Asr with Zohr, and Magreb with Esha or Esha with Magreb.

These licenses we should use for Allah the Highest said: “ALLAH DESIRES EASE NOT HARDSHIP FOR YOU” (S: 2 A: 185)

B: Bukhari    M: Muslim     Mal: Malek    A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi