'A'isha, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said Allah prescribed the prayer as two rak'ahs, then it was completed (to four rak'ahs) at the place of residence, but was retained in the same position in journey as it was first made obligatory.
The Book of Prayer - Travellers
Sahih Muslim 685 b
Hadith Text
'A'isha, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said Allah prescribed the prayer as two rak'ahs, then it was completed (to four rak'ahs) at the place of residence, but was retained in the same position in journey as it was first made obligatory.
Commentary
This narration establishes the divine origin of prayer legislation and clarifies the distinction between resident and traveler prayers. Initially, all obligatory prayers were prescribed as two rak'ahs, demonstrating Allah's mercy in gradual legislation. The completion to four rak'ahs for residents while maintaining the original two for travelers reflects the Shariah's consideration for circumstances. The traveler's concession preserves the initial obligation, showing that ease during difficulty is integral to Islamic jurisprudence. This hadith serves as fundamental evidence for shortening prayers during travel, a established Sunnah practiced continuously by the Muslim community.
Juridical Rulings
The four-rak'ah prayers (Zuhr, Asr, Isha) are shortened to two rak'ahs during travel.
This ruling applies when one meets the specific conditions for being considered a traveler according to Shariah.
The Maghrib prayer (three rak'ahs) and Fajr prayer (two rak'ahs) remain unchanged during travel.