Assalaamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh

Thursday, February 11, 2021

The Prayer Of A Travelling Person

Islam is a religion full of mercy and because of the hardships and inconveniences which a person usually undergoes during travels, "Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala" has made certain concessions to the traveller. 

One of these concessions is that a traveller may shorten some of the obligatory prayers. Allah says in the Holy Qur'an:
"When ye travel through the earth there is no blame on you if ye shorten your prayers..." (Qur:an  4:101)

Because  of this grant from Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala, it is an established practice that a travelling Muslim may shorten the four(4)  rakaats obligatory prayers into two rakaats only.

Thus, the Dhuhr, Asr and Isha prayers may each be shortened into two rakaats. 

However, the Maghrib and the Fajr prayer cannot be shortened and are to be performed in full.

It is also an established practice that the traveller may combine some of the obligatory prayers. 

Thus, the Dhuhr prayers maybe delayed until the time of the Asr prayer when both will be performed, or, the Asr prayer may be brought forward to the time of the Dhuhr prayer when both will be performed. 

Likewise, the Isha prayer may be brought forward to the time of Maghrib prayer; or, the Maghrib prayer may be delayed until the time of Isha prayer. 

The Fajr prayer can neither be brought forward nor delayed and has to be performed at its prescribed time.

Characteristics Of Combining The Prayers

1. Each prayer will be performed separately.

2. Only one prayer call (Adhaan) shall be made for both prayers but two second calls (Iqamahs) shall be required (i.e. that is one second call) (Iqamah) shall be made separately for each prayer)

If we may give an example, assuming that a traveller wishes to combine Dhuhr and Asr prayer forward to the time of the Dhuhr prayer, the person would proceed as follows:

(1) The person would first  come up with the call for prayer "Adhaan" intending it for both the two prayers.

(2) The person would then come up with the second call "Iqamah for the Dhuhr prayer.

(3) The person would then perform the Dhuhr prayer shortening it to two rakaats only.

(4) After completing the Dhuhr prayer, the person stands up and make another second call Iqamah for the Asr prayer.

(5)  The person would then perform the Asr prayer also shortened to two rakaats only.

Note
A traveller may lead the prayer as an Imam of the residents of the place he is visiting and in such case, he (being  an Imam), may perform only two rakaats for the Dhuhr, Asr and Isha prayers while the residents he is leading, shall upon his completion continue to complete the remaining two rakaats of the respective prayers. 

However, in such cases, it is desirable that the traveller who may act as an Imam first give notice to the congregation regarding his position and his intention to shorten his prayer so that the congregation continue to complete the prayer .

On the other hand, if the traveller has to pay behind any Iman who is a resident of the place he is visiting, then in such case, the traveller shall pray with the Imam all the four(4) rakaats as usual.

No comments: