The Creed of Compassion-Islamic Teachings & Answering Doctrinal Misconceptions

Issue No.1120- A person whose outward and return journey is eight farsakhs (43 KMs approximately) should shorten his prayer, irrespective of whether his outward journey is 4 farsakhs (21.5 KMs approximately) or less or more. As long as his outward and return journey is eight farsakhs, the four-rak‘at prayers should be shortened to two rak‘ats even though he may not return on the same day or night. However, if he decides to stay there for ten days, he cannot shorten his prayer.

Issue No.1127- If one decides to travel up to a point which is less distance than eight farsakhs but in the middle of the way or after reaching the destination, he wishes to travel further to another place and the two distances add up to eight farsakhs or more together, he should offer complete prayer since he did not intend on travelling eight farsakhs when he commenced his journey. In case however he intends to travel eight farsakhs further from the second point the prayer should be shortened.

Issue No.1131- The third condition is that the traveller should not change his mind on the way; if the traveller changes his mind or becomes hesitant in his intention before covering four farsakhs, he should offer complete prayers. If however, after covering a distance of four farsakhs the traveller leaves the journey he should perform qaṣr prayer unless he becomes hesitant about the journey or decides to remain at that place for ten days; in case of which he should offer complete prayers.

Issue No.1133- If a traveller enters his hometown, his journey is interrupted. Also if he reaches a place that he wishes to stay in for at least ten days, he should offer complete prayer even if one is not sure whether he will pass through his hometown or stay at a place for ten days.

Issue No.1134- If a person travels in order to commit theft, treachery or other haram deeds, he should offer complete prayer. The same ruling applies when travelling itself is haram, for instance, when travelling involves a significant harm to one’s body, or when a wife travels without the permission of her husband (based on obligatory precaution), or when someone travels in spite of his parent's prohibition acknowledging the fact that it results in their annoyance. However, if the journey is obligatory upon him (e.g., an obligatory ḥajj), then the permission of the husband or parents is not necessary, therefore one should perform qaṣr prayer.

Issue No.1143- The nomads, who do not have a specific hometown and who roam about in the deserts and stay in places where they find food for themselves and fodder and water for their animals, and proceed to some other place after a few days' halt, should offer complete prayer and should fast during these journeys.

Issue No.1145- Drivers, pilots, sailors, cameleers, etc., whose profession is travelling, should offer complete prayer. However, in the beginning of their job they should as a recommended precaution offer both complete and qaṣr prayer for two or three days.

Issue No.1160- There are a number of things which terminate the journey and necessitate a complete prayer.First: Reaching one’s hometown (Waṭan)Hometown (waṭan) is a place which a person adopts as his residence to settle and live there irrespective of whether he was born there or not, or it was regarded the home of his parents or he himself has selected it as his residence.

Second: Having the intention of staying for ten daysIssue No.1164- If a traveller intends to stay at a place continuously for ten days, or knows that he will be obliged to stay at a place for ten days, he should offer complete prayer at that place.

Third: Staying for a month without intentionIssue No. 1179- If a traveller stays at a place, and does not know how long he will stay there, he should offer qaṣr prayer. However, after passing thirty days even though he may stay there for a short period he should perform complete prayer. (If he stays at a place for a lunar month, which is less than thirty days, it will be sufficient e.g., one stays from the 10th of this month to the 10th of the next).

Issue No.1100- Sajdah al-sahw is not required if a person makes an error in some recitation, and then repeats to correct it.

Issue No.1087- One upon whom offering 'Precautionary prayer' is an obligation, should make its intention immediately after reciting the salām of the prayer, and pronounce Allahu Akbar, recite sūrah al-fātiḥa [and not the sūrah recited afterwards in normal prayers], then perform rukū‘ and two sajdahs. If it is a one rak‘at Precautionary prayer, tashahhud and salām of the prayer after the two sajdahs should be recited. However, if it is a two rak‘at Precautionary prayer, after the two sajdahs, another rak‘at like the first one should be performed, with the prayer ending with tashahhud and salām.