Chapter 11 - The Prayer of a Traveler and the Prayer of the Ill

453. ‘Aishah : narrated when the prayer was first enjoined by Allah, the Almighty, it was only two rak’at (in every prayer, whether in residence or on journeys). The prayer of the traveller was later confirmed as being to rak’at while two more rak’at were added to (the original prayer) for the one who is resident (except for the Maghrib and Fajr prayers).’ Agreed upon.


454. In the narration of Al-Bukhari, ‘Then he emigrated , so prayer was then prescribed as four rak’at, while the prayer of the traveller was left as it was originally prescribed (i.e. two rak’at).’


455. Imam Ahmad added in his narration, ‘except for the Maghrib prayer as it is the witr of the daytime and the dawn prayer due to its lengthy Qur’anic recital.
“Allah’s Messenger prayed the witr prayer at all hours of the night, (extending from after the ‘Isha prayer) up to the Sahar time{1} (meaning up to the last hour of the night up to the fajr prayer).’ Agreed upon.

{1} The sahar time refers to the final third of the night. The Prophet prayed witr at all times of the night to show that it is permissible.


456. ‘‘Aishah : narrated narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah used to shorten the prayer in his travels and used to offer the full prayer . He also used to fast or not fast during his journeys.” Relate by Imam Ad-Daraqutni.{2} This hadith has a defect, as it is known that it is ‘Aishah : who used to do this, and she said, ‘It is not difficult for me (i.e. to pray the full prayer and fast during journeys). Related by Al-Baihaqi.

{2} The narrators of this hadith are trustworthy, but it has a defect (shadh), as it is only attributed to ‘Aishah : and not to the Prophet as she is describing what she used to do, and not what the Prophet used to do. There is a consensus among th scholars that the Prophet never offered more than two rak’at on a journey, and all the trustworthy narrators agreed on this (see for example Sahih Al-Bukhari).


457. Ibn ‘Umar : narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “Allah, the Almighty likes people to make us of his concessions as much as He dislikes people to commit an act of disobedience to Allah.” Related by Ahmad. Ibn Khuzaimah and Ibn Hibban graded it as Sahih. In another narration, “as much as He likes people to observe the duties he has made obligatory.”


458. ‘Anas : narrated, ‘When the Messenger of Allah travelled for a distance of three miles or (Farsakhas{3}) he would pray two rak’at (i.e. shorten the prayer which was originally four rak’at).’ Related by Muslim.

{3} A Farsakh is a Persian measure, which is equal to three miles. The narrator was in doubt whether he said miles or Farsakhs.


459. Anas : narrated, ‘We travelled with the Prophet from Madinah to Makkah and he used to pray two rak’at (for every prayer) until we returned to Madinah.’ Agreed upon, and the wording is from Al-Bukhari.


460. Ibn ‘Abbas : narrated, “The Messenger of Allah once stayed for nineteen days shortening the prayer.’ In another narration, ‘(stayed) at Makkah for nineteen days.’ Related by Al-Bukhari. In a naration by Abu Dawud, ‘seventeen’, and in another narration, ‘fifteen’.


461. Abu Dawud also related on the authority of ‘Imran bin Husain : ‘for eighteen days’.


462. Jabir bin ‘Abdullah : narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah stayed at Tabuk for twenty days, he shortened the pray (during his stay).’ Related by Abu Dawud.

463. Anas : narrated, 'Whenever the Messenger of Allah started on a journey before the sun had passed its meridian (before noon), he would delay the Dhuhr prayer till the time of 'Asr then combine them together and if the sun declined (passed the meridian) before he traveled, he used to pray the Dhuhr prayer and then ride (for the journey).' Agreed upon. In a narration by Al-Hakim with a sound chain of narrators, 'He prayed Dhuhr and 'Asr (combined) and then rode (for his journey).' Abu Nu'aim related, 'Whenever he was on a journey, and the sun had declined, he would pray Dhuhr and 'Asr combined and then proceed on his journey.'


464. Mua'adh : narrated, 'We set out with the Prophet on the expedition of Tabuk, and he combined Dhuhr and 'Asr together, and combined the Maghrib and 'Isha prayers.' Related by Muslim.


465. Ibn 'Abbas : narrated, "The Messenger of Allah said, "Do not shorten the prayer (while traveling) for a distance less than four Buruds (each burd equals 16 Farsakh), from Makkah to 'Usafan." Related by Ad-Daraqutni, but its chain of narrators has 'Abdul Wahab bin Mujahid who was accused of lying in hadith by Imam Ath-Thawry.


466. jabir bin 'Abdullah :radiyallahunanh: narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, "The best ones in my nation are those who seek Allah's forgiveness when they do wrong, and when on a journey they shorten the prayer and break their fast." Related by At-Tabarani in his 'Awsat' with a weak chain of narrators.


467. 'Imran bin Husain : narrated, 'I had hemorrhoids, so i asked the prophet about the prayer and he said, "Pray while standing and if you cannot do so, pray while sitting, and if you can not do that, then pray while lying on your side." Related by Al-Bukhari.


468. Jabir bin ‘Abdullah :radiyallhuanh: narrated that the Messenger of Allah visited a sick person and found him praying while sitting on a cushion. The Prophet pushed it aside and said to him: “Pray while sitting on the ground if you can, and if you can not hen pray by nodding your head and make a lower nodding for prostration than that for bowing (ruku’).” Related by Al-Baihaqi.


469. ‘Aishah : narrated, ‘I saw the Messenger of Allah praying while he was sitting cross-legged.’ Related by An-Nasa’i, and Al-Hakim graded it as Sahih.