The Book of Prayer - Travellers

كتاب صلاة المسافرين وقصرها

Chapter 1: The travelers’ prayer and shortening it

A hadith like this has been transmitted by Anas, but no mention has been made of Pilgrimage.

Chapter 2: Shortening the prayer in Mina

Salim b. 'Abdullah (b. 'Umar) reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) observed the prayer of a traveller, i. e. two rak'ahs in Mina, and other places; so did Abu Bakr and 'Umar, and 'Uthman too observed two rak'ahs at the beginning of his caliphate, but he then completed four.

A hadith like this has been reported by Zuhri, with the same chain of transmitters, and in it mention was made of Mina only, but not of other places.

Ibn 'Umar reported

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said two rak'ahs at Mina, and Abu Bakr after him, and 'Umar after Abu Bakr, and 'Uthman at the beginning of his caliphate; then 'Uthman observed four rak'ahs, and when Ibn 'Umar prayed with the Imam, he said four rak'ahs, but when he observed prayer alone, he said two rak'ahs.

A hadith like this has been narrated by the same chain of transmitters.

Ibn 'Umar reported

The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) said in Mina the prayer of a traveller (short prayer) ; Abu Bakr and 'Umar did the same and 'Uthmia did it for eight years or six years. Hafs (one of the narrators) said: Ibn 'Umar would also say two rak'ahs at Mina and then go to bed. I said to him: O uncle, I wish you could have said two rak'ahs (of Sunnah prayer after shorenting the Fard prayer). He said: Were I to do that, I would have completed the prayer.

This hadith has been narrated by Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters but no mention has been made of Mina, but they (the narrators) only said

He prayed while travelling.

Ibrahim reported

I heard 'Abd al-Rahman as saying; 'Uthman led us four rak'ahs of prayer at Mina. It was reported to Abdullah b. Mas'ud and he recited:" Surely we are Allah's and to Him shall we return," and then said: I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) at Mina two rak'ahs of prayer. I prayed along with Abu Bakr al-Siddiq two rak'ahs of prayer at Mina. I prayed along with 'Umar b. Khattab two rak'ahs of prayer at Mina. I wish I had my share of the two rak'ahs acceptable (to God) for the four rak'ahs.

A hadith like this has been reported by A'mash with the same chain of transmitters.

Haritha b. Wahb reported

I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) two rak'ahs and most of them offered two rak'ahs only in Mina, while the people felt secure.

Wahb al-Khuza'i reported

I prayed behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) at Mina, and there was the greatest number of people, and they prayed two rak'ahs on the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage. (Muslim said: Haritha b. Wahb al-Khuza'i is the brother of 'Ubaidullah b. 'Umar son of Khattab from the side of his mother.)

Chapter 3: Praying in dwellings when it is raining

Ibn 'Umar announced Adhan for prayer on a cold, windy night. Then added

Pray in your dwellings; and then said: When it was a cold, rainy night, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to command the Mu'adhdhin to say" Pray in your dwellings."

Ibn 'Umar reported that he summoned (people) to pray on a cold, windy and rainy night, and then observed at the end of the Adhin

Pray in your dwellings, pray in your dwellings, and then said: When it was a cold night or it was raining in a journey the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) used to command the Mu'adhdhin to announce: Pray in your dwellings.

Ibn 'Umar reported that he summoned (people) to prayer at a place (known as) Dajnan, and the rest of the hadith is the same, and then said

Pray in your dwellings, but he did not repeat for the second time words of Ibn 'Umar (Pray in your dwellings).

Jabir reported

We set cut with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) on a journey when it began to rain. Upon this he said: He who desires may pray in his dwelling.

'Abdullah b. 'Abbas reported that he said to the Mu'adhdhin on a rainy day

When you have announced" I testify that there is no god but Allah; I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," do not say:" Come to the prayer," but make this announcement:" Say prayer in your houses." He (the narrator) said that the people disapproved of it. Ibn 'Abbas said: Are you astonished at it? He (the Holy Prophet), who is better than I, did it. Jumu'a prayer is no doubt obligatory, but I do not like that I should (force you) to come out and walk in mud and slippery ground.

'Abd al-Hamid reported

I heard 'Abdullah b. al-Harith say: 'Abdullah b. 'Abbas addressed us on a rainy day, and the rest of the hadith is the same, but he made no mention of Jumu'a prayer, and added: He who did it (who commanded us to say prayer in our houses), i. e. the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), is better than I.

This hadith has been narrated by Ayyub and 'Asim al-Ahwal with the same chain of transmitters, but in this hadith it is not recorded

" i. e. the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)."

'Abdullah b. Harith reported that Ibn 'Abbas commanded the Mu'adhdhin to (summon the people to prayer on Friday and make announcement to say prayer in their houses) when it was rainy, and the rest of the hadith is the same (except this) that he said

I do not like you should walk in muddy slippery place.

'Abdullah b. Harith reported that the Mu'adhdhin of Ibn 'Abba said Adhan on Friday (and then made the announcement to say prayer in houses) because it was a rainy day; as it has been narrated by Ma'mar and others, and in this hadith it was mentioned

He who did it, i. e. the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), was better than I.