Praying While Travelling: Shortening and Joining

Allah says there is no blame on believers for shortening the prayer when they travel (Quran 4:101). The verse mentions fear, but when Umar asked the Prophet ﷺ about shortening the prayer in safety, he said it is a charity that Allah has given, so accept His charity (Sahih Muslim 686). Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that the prayer was first made two rak'ahs, and the prayer of the traveller stayed at two (Sahih al-Bukhari 350). The Prophet ﷺ prayed two rak'ahs on his journey from Madinah to Makkah (Sahih al-Bukhari 1081).

Only the prayers with four rak'ahs are shortened. They are Dhuhr, Asr and Isha, and each becomes two rak'ahs. Fajr stays at two and Maghrib stays at three.

Scholars differ on the status of shortening. The Hanafi school says it is required for the traveller. The Maliki school calls it a confirmed sunnah. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools see it as a concession, and they say it is better to use it.

Joining means praying Dhuhr and Asr together, or Maghrib and Isha together. You can pray them at the time of the first prayer or at the time of the second one. The Prophet ﷺ joined prayers on journeys (Sahih al-Bukhari 1107 and 1111).

Scholars differ about joining. The Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools allow it for a traveller. The Hanafi school limits real joining to the pilgrimage, at Arafah and Muzdalifah (Sahih Muslim 1218; Sahih al-Bukhari 1673), and explains the travel reports as praying each prayer near the end of its time and the next one at the start of its time. If you are not sure which view to follow, ask a qualified local scholar.

Joining is a help for hard situations. It is not meant to be used for convenience when there is no need.

The concession starts when you leave your town and begin a journey that counts as travel. The Prophet ﷺ prayed Dhuhr in Madinah with four rak'ahs and Asr at Dhul-Hulayfah with two (Sahih al-Bukhari 1089). It ends when you come back to your town, or when you decide to stay in a place for longer than the limit of your school.

The distance that counts as travel is different in each school. The Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools put it at about 80 km (around 48 miles). The Hanafi school sets a journey of three days, which is calculated as roughly 80 to 100 km. Some scholars say it is whatever people commonly call travel. The length of a stay is also different. It is 15 days in the Hanafi school and four days in the Maliki and Shafi'i schools. The Hanbali school says more than four days. The Prophet ﷺ stayed nineteen days in Makkah while shortening his prayers (Sahih al-Bukhari 1080). Because of these differences, check the view of the school you follow, or ask a qualified local scholar.

If you pray behind an imam who is praying the full prayer, follow him and pray the full number (Sahih al-Bukhari 722).

Most scholars say that a traveller is not required to attend the Friday prayer. They point out that the Prophet ﷺ prayed Dhuhr and Asr, shortened and joined, at Arafah on a Friday during his Hajj (Sahih Muslim 1218; Sahih al-Bukhari 45). In that case you pray Dhuhr, shortened. If you are in a town and can join the Friday prayer, you may do so.

On a journey, the regular sunnah prayers that come with the five prayers are optional. Ibn Umar did not see the Prophet ﷺ pray them while travelling (Sahih al-Bukhari 1101). But the Prophet ﷺ kept the witr prayer on journeys, even on his mount (Sahih al-Bukhari 1000), and he prayed the two sunnah rak'ahs of Fajr on a journey (Sahih Muslim 681). Voluntary prayers are never a burden on a traveller.

Plan ahead. Check the prayer times for your route before you leave, and make wudu before you board if you can. If you are allowed to join the prayers, joining may solve the problem.

If the prayer time will end before you arrive, pray on the vehicle. Face the Qibla as well as you can. Stand if it is safe, and sit if it is not. Use gestures for bowing and prostration if you cannot do them fully (Sahih al-Bukhari 1117).

If you can wait and pray safely on the ground within the time, many people choose that. Scholars differ about the details, so ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.