Prayer while Travelling - Section 1

Anas said that God’s Messenger prayed four <i>rak'as</i> at the noon prayer in Medina and two <i>rak'as</i> at the afternoon prayer in Dhul Hulaifa. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنْ أَنَسٍ: أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَلَّى الظُّهْرَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ أَرْبَعًا وَصَلَّى الْعَصْر بِذِي الحليفة رَكْعَتَيْنِ

Haritha b. Wahb al-Khuza‘i said, “God’s Messenger led us in a prayer of two rak'as in Mina when we were more numerous and more secure than we had ever been before.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ حَارِثَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ الْخُزَاعِيِّ قَالَ: صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَنَحْنُ أَكْثَرُ مَا كُنَّا قَطُّ وآمنه بمنا رَكْعَتَيْنِ

Ya'la b. Umayya said:

I remarked to ‘Umar b. al-Khattab that God had said, “You may shorten the prayer,” only “if you fear those who are infidels may afflict you” (Al-Qur’an; 4:101), whereas the people were now safe. He replied that he had wondered about the same matter, so he asked God's Messenger and received the reply, “It is an act of charity which God has done to you, so accept His charity.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن يعلى بن أُميَّة قَالَ: قلت لعمر بن الْخطاب: إِنَّمَا قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى (أَنْ تَقْصُرُوا مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَنْ يَفْتِنَكُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا) فَقَدْ أَمِنَ النَّاسُ. قَالَ عُمَرُ: عَجِبْتُ مِمَّا عَجِبْتَ مِنْهُ فَسَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. فَقَالَ: «صَدَقَةٌ تَصَدَّقَ اللَّهُ بِهَا عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْبَلُوا صدقته» رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Anas said:

We went out from Medina to Mecca with God’s Messenger and he prayed two <i>rak'as</i> at each time of prayer till we returned to Medina. On being asked whether they had stayed any length of time in Mecca, he replied that they had stayed ten days. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: خَرَجْنَا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ من الْمَدِينَةِ إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَكَانَ يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ حَتَّى رَجَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ قِيلَ لَهُ: أَقَمْتُمْ بِمَكَّة شَيْئا قَالَ: «أَقَمْنَا بهَا عشرا»

Ibn ‘Abbas said the Prophet (ﷺ) made a journey during which he had a stop of nineteen days, and he prayed two <i>rak'as</i> at each time of prayer. Ibn ‘Abbas said, “So when we are stopping nineteen days between here and Mecca we pray two <i>rak'as</i> each time, but when we stop more than that we pray four.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: سَافَرَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَفَرًا فَأَقَامَ تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ يَوْمًا يُصَلِّي رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: فَنَحْنُ نُصَلِّي فِيمَا بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ مَكَّةَ تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَإِذَا أَقَمْنَا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِك صلينَا أَرْبعا. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Hafs b. ‘Asim said:

I accompanied Ibn ‘Umar on the road to Mecca and he led us in two <i>rak'as</i> at the noon prayer, then went to the place where he had alighted and sat down. Seeing some people standing he asked what they were doing, and I replied that they were engaged in glorifying God. He said, “If I had done so I would have perfected my prayer. I accompanied God's Messenger, and he prayed two <i>rak'as</i> and nothing more while on a journey. I also accompanied Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman, and they did the same." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ قَالَ: صَحِبْتُ ابْنَ عُمَرَ فِي طَرِيقِ مَكَّةَ فَصَلَّى لَنَا الظُّهْرَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ جَاءَ رَحْلَهُ وَجَلَسَ فَرَأَى نَاسًا قِيَامًا فَقَالَ: مَا يَصْنَعُ هَؤُلَاءِ؟ قُلْتُ: يُسَبِّحُونَ. قَالَ: لَوْ كُنْتُ مُسَبِّحًا أَتْمَمْتُ صَلَاتِي. صَحِبْتُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَكَانَ لَا يَزِيدُ فِي السَّفَرِ عَلَى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَأَبَا بكر وَعمر وَعُثْمَان كَذَلِك

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s Messenger used to combine the noon and the afternoon prayer while travelling, and also to combine the sunset and the evening prayer. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَجْمَعُ بَين الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْر إِذَا كَانَ عَلَى ظَهْرِ سَيْرٍ وَيجمع بَين الْمغرب وَالْعشَاء. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Ibn ‘Umar said that on a journey God’s Messenger would pray on his riding beast in whatever direction it turned, making a sign with his head* in prayer during the night, but not in the obligatory prayers; and he would observe a <i>witr</i> on his riding beast. *To indicate the bowing and the prostration. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي فِي السَّفَرِ عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ حَيْثُ تَوَجَّهَتْ بِهِ يُومِئُ إِيمَاءً صَلَاةَ اللَّيْلِ إِلَّا الْفَرَائِضَ وَيُوتِرُ على رَاحِلَته

‘A'isha said, “God’s Messenger has done all that; he both shortened the prayer and observed it completely.” [Baghawi] transmitted it in <i>Sharh as-sunna</i>.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ ذَلِكَ قَدْ فَعَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَصَرَ الصَّلَاةَ وَأَتَمَّ. رَوَاهُ فِي شرح السّنة

‘Imran b. Husain said:

I went on an expedition with the Prophet, and I was present with him at the Conquest. He stayed eighteen days in Mecca and prayed only two <i>rak'as</i> [at each time of prayer]. He said, “You who live in the town must pray four; we are travellers.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ قَالَ: غَزَوْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَشَهِدْتُ مَعَهُ الْفَتْحَ فَأَقَامَ بِمَكَّةَ ثَمَانِيَ عَشْرَةَ لَيْلَةً لَا يُصَلِّي إِلَّا رَكْعَتَيْنِ يَقُولُ: «يَا أَهْلَ الْبَلَدِ صَلُّوا أَرْبَعًا فَإِنَّا سَفْرٌ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ

Ibn ‘Umar said, “When travelling I prayed along with the Prophet (ﷺ) two <i>rak'as</i> at the noon prayer and two after it.” In a version he said, “I prayed with the Prophet (ﷺ) both when resident and when travelling. When resident I prayed along with him four <i>rak'as</i> at the noon prayer and two after it, and when travelling two at it and two after it; two <i>rak'as</i> at the afternoon prayer after which he prayed no more; and both when resident and travelling alike three <i>rak'as</i> at the sunset prayer, in which he never prayed less whether resident or travelling, this being the <i>witr</i> of the daytime. After it he prayed two <i>rak'as</i>.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الظُّهْرَ فِي السَّفَرِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَبَعْدَهَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ قَالَ: صَلَّيْتُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الْحَضَرِ وَالسَّفَرِ فَصَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ فِي الْحَضَرِ الظُّهْرَ أَرْبَعًا وَبَعْدَهَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَصَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ فِي السَّفَرِ الظُّهْرَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَبَعْدَهَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَالْعَصْرَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَلَمْ يُصَلِّ بَعْدَهَا شَيْئًا وَالْمَغْرِبُ فِي الْحَضَرِ وَالسَّفَرِ سَوَاءٌ ثَلَاثُ رَكَعَاتٍ وَلَا يَنْقُصُ فِي حَضَرٍ وَلَا سَفَرٍ وَهِيَ وِتْرُ النَّهَارِ وَبَعْدَهَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Mu'adh b.Jabal said that on the expedition to Tabuk,* if the sun had passed the meridian before the Prophet (ﷺ) moved off he combined the noon and the afternoon prayer, but if he moved off before the sun had passed the meridian he delayed the noon prayer till he halted for the afternoon prayer. He acted similarly regarding the sunset prayer:

if the sun set before he moved off he combined the sunset and the evening prayer, but if he moved off before sunset he delayed the sunset prayer till he halted for the evening prayer and then combined them. *In 19 AH. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ: إِذَا زَاغَتِ الشَّمْسُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْتَحِلَ جَمَعَ بَيْنَ الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ وَإِنِ ارْتَحَلَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَزِيغَ الشَّمْسُ أَخَّرَ الظُّهْرَ حَتَّى يَنْزِلَ لِلْعَصْرِ وَفِي الْمَغْرِبِ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ إِذَا غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَرْتَحِلَ جَمَعَ بَيْنَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ وَإِنِ ارْتَحَلَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَغِيبَ الشَّمْسُ أَخَّرَ الْمَغْرِبَ حَتَّى يَنْزِلَ لِلْعِشَاءِ ثُمَّ يَجْمَعُ بَيْنَهُمَا. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ

Anas said that when God’s Messenger was on a journey and wished to say voluntary prayers he made his she-camel face the <i>qibla</i> and said, “God is most great,” then prayed in whatever direction his mount made him face. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا سَافَرَ وَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَتَطَوَّعَ اسْتَقْبَلَ الْقِبْلَةَ بِنَاقَتِهِ فَكَبَّرَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى حَيْثُ وَجهه ركابه. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Jabir said, “God’s Messenger sent me on some business, and when I came to him he was praying on his riding-beast towards the east and making the prostration lower than the bowing.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي حَاجَةٍ فَجِئْتُ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ نَحْوَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَيَجْعَلُ السُّجُودَ أَخفض من الرُّكُوع. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Ibn ‘Umar said that God’s Messenger prayed two <i>rak'as</i> in Mina, as did Abu Bakr after his death, ‘Umar after Abu Bakr’s death, and ‘Uthman in the early part of his Caliphate, but afterwards ‘Uthman prayed four. When Ibn ‘Umar prayed with an <i>imam</i> he prayed four, but when he prayed alone he prayed two. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بمنى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ بَعْدَهُ وَعُمَرُ بَعْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُثْمَانُ صَدَرًا مِنْ خِلَافَتِهِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ عُثْمَانَ صَلَّى بَعْدُ أَرْبَعًا فَكَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ إِذَا صَلَّى مَعَ الْإِمَامِ صَلَّى أَرْبَعًا وَإِذَا صلاهَا وَحده صلى رَكْعَتَيْنِ

‘A’isha said that the prayer was prescribed as consisting of two <i>rak'as</i>, and after God's Messenger emigrated it was prescribed as four, but prayer while travelling was left according to the original prescription. Zuhri said he asked ‘Urwa why ‘A’isha said prayers in the complete form and he replied that she interpreted the matter herself as ‘Uthman did. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: فُرِضَتِ الصَّلَاةُ رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ هَاجَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَفُرِضَتْ أَرْبَعًا وَتُرِكَتْ صَلَاةُ السَّفَرِ عَلَى الْفَرِيضَةِ الْأُولَى. قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ: قُلْتُ لِعُرْوَةَ: مَا بَال عَائِشَة تتمّ؟ قَالَ: تأولت كَمَا تَأَول عُثْمَان

Ibn ‘Abbas said, “God has prescribed the prayer by the tongue of your Prophet (ﷺ) as four <i>rak'as</i> when resident, two when travelling, and one when danger is present.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: فَرَضَ اللَّهُ الصَّلَاةَ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّكُمْ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الْحَضَرِ أَرْبَعًا وَفِي السَّفَرِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَفِي الْخَوْف رَكْعَة. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

He and Ibn ‘Umar said that God’s Messenger established the practice of praying two <i>rak'as</i> when travelling, they constituting a complete observance and not an abbreviation; and the <i>witr</i> while travelling is a <i>sunna</i>. Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَن ابْن عَبَّاس وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَا: سَنَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَلَاةَ السَّفَرِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَهُمَا تَمَامٌ غَيْرُ قَصْرٍ وَالْوِتْرُ فِي السَّفَرِ سنة. رَوَاهُ ابْن مَاجَه

Malik said he heard that Ibn ‘Abbas used to shorten the prayer on a journey equivalent to that between Mecca and at-Ta'if, or between Mecca and ‘Usfan, or between Mecca and Judda. Malik said that that was four postal stages. He transmitted it in <i>al-Muwatta’</i>.

وَعَن مَالك بَلَغَهُ أَنَّ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ كَانَ يَقْصُرُ فِي الصَّلَاة فِي مثل مَا يكون بَين مَكَّة والطائف وَفِي مثل مَا يكون بَيْنَ مَكَّةَ وَعُسْفَانَ وَفَى مِثْلِ مَا بَيْنَ مَكَّةَ وَجُدَّةَ قَالَ مَالِكٌ: وَذَلِكَ أَرْبَعَةُ بُرُدٍ. رَوَاهُ فِي الْمُوَطَّأ

Al-Bara’ said, "I accompanied God’s Messenger on eighteen journeys and I never saw him fail to pray two <i>rak'as</i> when the sun had passed the meridian before praying the noon prayer.” Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying that this is a <i>gharib</i> tradition.

وَعَن الْبَراء قَالَ: صَحِبْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ سَفَرًا فَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ تَرَكَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ إِذَا زَاغَتِ الشَّمْسُ قَبْلَ الظُّهْرِ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ

Nafi' said that ‘Abdallah b. ‘Umar used to see his son ‘Ubaidallah saying supererogatory prayers while on a journey, and did not express disapproval. Malik transmitted it.

وَعَنْ نَافِعٍ قَالَ: إِنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ كَانَ يَرَى ابْنَهُ عُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ يَتَنَفَّلُ فِي السَّفَرِ فَلَا يُنْكِرُ عَلَيْهِ. رَوَاهُ مَالِكٌ