Shortening the Prayer During Long Residence

Question:

What is the ruling of shortening prayer if some one intends to travel and reside more than four days? 

Answer:

In the name of Allah, we praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright.

Shortening prayer while travelling is permissible and sunnah that is proven in the Quran and the Sunnah. In the Quran, Almighty Allah says: 

When you travel through the land, it is permissible for you to shorten the prayer…” (An-Nisa’ 4: 101) 

Ya`la ibn Umayyah said: I remarked to `Umar ibn Al-Khattab that Allah had said, “You may shorten the prayer,” only “if you fear those who are infidels may afflict you” (Al-Qur’an; 4:101), whereas the people were now safe. He replied that he had wondered about the same matter, so he asked God’s Messenger and received the reply, “It is an act of charity which God has done to you, so accept His charity.” (Authenticated by Al-Albani)

If a traveller intends to stay for more than four days he is no longer allowed the concession granted for travellers.

The most correct view of the scholars is that whoever intends to reside more than four days in a place of destination (while in a journey) without the day of arriving and leaving, then he should offer the prayers fully without shortening them. However, some scholars are of the view that a traveller is permitted to shorten the prayer even if he resides for a period more than the above stated one as long as he is a traveller. 

Watch this interesting talk with Dr. Muhammad Salah to know more about the ruling of shortening the prayer. 

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Source: Huda Youtube Channel.