The Book of Prayer - Travellers

Sahih Muslim 705 c

Commentary on the Prophetic Wisdom

This narration demonstrates the profound mercy and compassion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) toward his Ummah. The reduction in prayer during travel was not merely a concession but a manifestation of divine wisdom intended to prevent undue hardship upon believers.

Classical scholars explain that this ruling reflects the Islamic principle of easing religious obligations when genuine difficulty exists. The shortening of four-rak'ah prayers to two during travel preserves the spiritual connection with Allah while acknowledging the physical and mental strains of journeying.

Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya notes that such concessions reveal Islam's balanced approach to worship, avoiding both excessive rigor and undue laxity. The Prophet's concern for his followers' ease exemplifies his role as the merciful messenger described in the Quran: "There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful." (At-Tawbah 9:128)

Legal Implications and Conditions

The majority of scholars hold that prayer shortening becomes obligatory once the traveler meets the specific distance requirements (approximately 48 miles/77 km according to most schools). This ruling applies to the four-rak'ah prayers only, while Maghrib and Fajr remain unchanged.

Imam An-Nawawi clarifies in his commentary on Sahih Muslim that this concession continues throughout the journey until the traveler returns to their place of residence or intends to stay in a new location for more than four days according to the Shafi'i school, or fifteen days according to the Hanafi school.