Question:
What is the ruling on one who travels back and forth between two places frequently?
Answer:
The Lajnah stated in response to such a situation that:
“The said person should not shorten prayers on his weekends whether he stays a day, more, or less, because he is not a traveler. The same is applicable to the place of his study according to the most correct opinion of scholars, as he is staying for longer than the prescribed period for shortening prayer. However, he may shorten the four Rak`ah Salahs (Prayer consisting of four units) during his travel between his home city and the place of his study.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.”
As well, Shaikh Bin Baz rahimahullah said:
أما من أقام إقامة طويلة للدراسة، أو لغيرها من الشؤون، أو يعزم على الإقامة مدة طويلة فهذا الواجب عليه الإتمام، وهذا هو الصواب، وهو الذي عليه جمهور أهل العلم من الأئمة الأربعة وغيرهم، لأن الأصلِّ في حق المقيم الإتمام، فإذا عزم على الإقامة أكثر من أربعة أيام وجب عليه الإتمام للدراسة أو غيرها
“As for one who will stay for a long time due to studying or other than that of affairs or he is certain of residing for a long period, then it is obligatory upon him to complete the prayers . This is what is correct and what the majority of the People of Knowledge from the Four Imams and other than them are upon. This is because the origin in regards to the resident is completing the prayer. So if he is resolved in staying more than four days, then it is obligatory upon him to complete the prayers while studying or other than it….”
He also said another time,
Shaikh Bin Baz rahimahullah said:
وهكذا إذا نزل في بلد فإنه يقصر ما دام في البلد إذا كانت الإقامة أربعة أيام فأقل فإنه يقصر كما فعل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لما نزل مكة في حجة الوداع ، فإنه نزل بمكة صبيحة رابعة في ذي الحجة ولم يزل يقصر حتى خرج إلى منى في ثامن ذي الحجة . وكذلك إذا كان عازما على الإقامة مدة لا يعرف نهايتها هل هي أربعة أيام أو أكثر فإنه يقصر حتى تنتهي حاجته ، أو يعزم على الإقامة مدة تزيد عن أربعة أيام عند أكثر أهل العلم .
Like this if you land in a place then you shorten as long as you are in the that land for four days or less. He shortens like how the Prophet sallahu alayhi wa salam did when he landed in Makkah in his final Hajj. He landed on the morning of fourth of Dhul Hijjah and he shortened the prayers until he left to Mina on the eigth of Dhul Hijjah. Likewise, if he does not know how long he will stay, whether it is four days or more, then he shortens until he completes his need or when he knows he will stay longer than four days. This is according to most of the People of Knowledge…”
And Allah Knows Best
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
