I told 'Umar b. al-Khattab that Allah had said:" You may shorten the prayer only if you fear that those who are unbelievers may afflict you" (Qur'an, iv. 101), whereas the people are now safe. He replied: I wondered about it in the same way as you wonder about it, so I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about it and he said: It is an act of charity which Allah has done to you, so accept His charity.
The Book of Prayer - Travellers
Sahih Muslim 686 a - Commentary by Classical Scholar
Context of the Narration
This hadith addresses the divine concession (rukhṣah) of shortening prayers during travel, even when security prevails. The initial verse (4:101) mentions fear as a condition, but the Prophet's explanation reveals this as Allah's mercy beyond the apparent text.
Legal Ruling (Ḥukm)
Shortening prayers is a confirmed Sunnah (sunnah muʼakkadah) for travelers, regardless of security conditions. The "fear" mentioned in the Quran represents the original circumstance, but the ruling extends through the Prophet's clarification as a perpetual charity from Allah.
Divine Wisdom
Allah's charity manifests in easing worship during hardship. Travel inherently involves difficulty, thus the concession remains valid despite absence of fear. This demonstrates Islamic law's balance between upholding obligations and recognizing human circumstances.
Scholarly Consensus
All four Sunni madhāhib agree traveling Muslims should shorten four-rak'ah prayers to two. This ruling applies when journeying beyond approximately 48 miles (80 km), aligning with the Prophet's practice and the companions' understanding.