The Prescribed Prayer: Chapter Two (cont.)
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QASRUS SALAAH (SHORTENING OF THE PRAYER)
Allah in His mercy on the Muslims has allowed
the traveller to shorten his prayer by offering two raka'aats of Fard instead
of the regular four raka'aats in the case of Zuhr, 'Asr and 'Ishaa prayers.
There is no shortening of Salaah for Subh and Maghrib prayers. Al-Quran
declares:
"When you go on a journey, there is no
harm if you shorten Salaah." (Al-Quran, 3:101)
MILEAGE OF QASR
According to the verse above and many Hadeeths
from the Prophet, there is nothing which specifies the length of the journey
during which the traveller may shorten the prayer. Therefore, a journey
from one's own town, whether it is long or short, suffices for a Qasr.
One thus starts shortening the prayer the moment one sets out for a journey.
Anas Bin Maalik has been reported as saying:
"I prayed Zuhr with the Prophet in Medina
four raka'aats and two raka'aats at Dhul Hulaifah."
The point in this Hadeeth is that the Prophet
started shortening his prayer from Dhul Hulaifah, which is about half a
mile from the city of Medina.
The Salaah is completed as soon as one
returns to his town. If one misses a prayer during a journey, and one is
back to his residence, one should offer two raka'aats, a shortened prayer.
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