Al-Qasr Prayer: Difference between revisions

Shortened prayer (Arabic: صلاة القصر) (Persian: نماز شکسته; broken prayer) or Traveler’s Prayer (Arabic: صلاة المسافر) is a term used as apposite to complete prayer. Upon certain conditions, it is obligatory for a traveller to shorten 4 Rak’a prayers and perform them in 2 Rak’as. Shortening prayer is obligatory for travellers according to Imamiyya sect; however according to other Islamic sects, it is only permissible, not obligatory.

==In Qur’an and Sunna==

The reason for this ruling is (4:101) verse 101 of Sura al-Nisa’:

“When you journey in the land, there is no sin upon you in shortening the prayers, if you fear that the faithless may trouble you; …”

It has been documented in both Sunni and Shi'a sources that while travelling, the Holy Prophet (s) shortened 4 Rak’a prayers and performed them in 2 Rak’as. In Hadith and Jurisprudential compilations, separate chapters have been dedicated to the discussion of shortening prayers while travelling.

Among Islamic sects, Imamiyya and Hanafiyya deem shortening prayer as an obligation for the traveller; however, Malikiyya regards the act of shortening a highly recommended practice, and Shafi’iyya and Hanbaliyya deem it permissible, meaning a traveller can pray either in 4 or 2 Rak’as, without any obligation or preference in either option.  

Those who deem shortening unnecessary have appealed to the phrase “there is no sin upon you in shortening”. In contrast, those who regard it as an obligation would reply that the verse intended to wipe away the false mentality which considered such act sinful. In some other verses of the Holy Qur’an, the same phrase is used to denote obligation.

Additionally and based on the apparent meaning of the verse, some have restricted the permissibility of shortening to situations of fear and insecurity. However, The Prophetic Tradition has interpreted the verse in nonrestrictive terms; i.e. both in security and danger, the Prophet (s) would shorten his prayers while travelling. Based on this explanation, the clause “if you fear …” in the verse is taken to be only a reference to the prevalence of such situations at that time, not a restrictive term.

1- a person whose travel exceeds the Shar’i distance, that is, the covered distance (whether going or going and returning combined) must be at least eight Shar’i leagues (approximately 45 km.)

2- From the beginning of the trip, the traveller must be aware of covering or exceeding the mentioned distance; and must remain so until reaching the distance.

3- The traveller must not cross his hometown anywhere within the mentioned distance; neither should he remain somewhere ten days or more.

4- The traveller must not travel for Haram purposes.

5- The traveller must not be of nomads who mostly travel.

6- Travelling must not be his job.

7- The traveller must cross the Tarakhkhus limit.

==the Rulings of Shortened Prayer==

Any traveller with the abovementioned conditions must perform 4 Rak’a prayers in 2 Rak’as; thus, the ruling of shortening prayer does not apply in Fajr prayer (which is 2 Rak’as by itself) and Maghrib (which is 3 Rak’as).

Islamic practical laws are based on real good and evil, which are sometimes explained, and sometimes remain hidden to us. In some narrations, shortening of traveller’s prayer (and breaking a traveller’s fast) have been regarded as a gift and remission from God, because of different conditions, exhaustion and busyness during travels. It has been stated in a narration by Imam al-Sadiq (a) from the Holy Prophet (s):

“Allah has bestowed a gift upon me and my nation, which has not been given to other nations …, breaking fast and shortening prayer in travel; therefor, whoever does not comply, has rejected Allah’s gift.”