Travel brings two concessions: qaṣr (shortening the four-rakʿah prayers to two) and jamʿ (combining two prayers in one time). “When you travel through the land, there is no blame on you to shorten the prayer.” (Qurʾān 4:101)
Shortening (qaṣr)
- • Dhuhr, ʿAṣr, and ʿIshāʾ (4 rakʿahs) are prayed as 2.
- • Fajr (2) and Maghrib (3) are never shortened.
- • It begins once you leave the built-up edge of your town.
- • Distance: roughly 80 km / ~48 miles is the commonly-cited threshold (the schools word it differently).
Combining (jamʿ)
- • Dhuhr + ʿAṣr may be prayed together; Maghrib + ʿIshāʾ may be prayed together.
- • Jamʿ taqdīm = at the earlier time; jamʿ taʾkhīr = at the later time.
- • A mercy for travel, rain, illness, or hardship (with detail per school).
Compare the schools
Tap a school to see its ruling first everywhere on this page.
Ṣalāh
Is shortening (qaṣr) obligatory or optional?
Hanafi: Qaṣr is obligatory (ʿazīma) for the traveler — the four-rakʿah prayers are prayed as two; praying four is disliked/incorrect.
Other schools
Maliki: A strongly-emphasised sunnah — one should shorten.
Shāfiʿī: A permitted concession (rukhṣa) — shorten or complete, shortening being preferred.
Hanbali: A preferred concession — shortening is better than completing.
Ṣalāt al-musāfir — al-Mawsūʿa al-Fiqhiyya.
Ṣalāh
May a traveler combine (jamʿ) two prayers?
Hanafi: No real jamʿ for ordinary travel — each prayer at its own time (shortened). The only combining is at ʿArafa and Muzdalifa during Hajj.
Other schools
Maliki: Permitted for the traveler under conditions (and for rain, illness).
Shāfiʿī: Permitted for the traveler (taqdīm or taʾkhīr), and for rain.
Hanbali: Permitted for the traveler, and for rain, illness, and other needs.
Jamʿ al-ṣalāt li-l-musāfir — al-Mawsūʿa al-Fiqhiyya.
Ṣalāh
How long may a resident-traveler keep shortening?
Hanafi: Intending to stay 15 days or more ends the concession; less keeps you a traveler.
Other schools
Maliki: Intending to stay 4 days (20 prayers) or more ends it.
Shāfiʿī: Intending to stay 4 days (excluding arrival/departure days) ends it.
Hanbali: Intending to stay more than 4 days (over 20 prayers) ends it.
Muddat al-safar — al-Mawsūʿa al-Fiqhiyya.
Evidence
وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُوا مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ
“When you travel through the land, there is no blame on you to shorten the prayer.”
Qurʾān 4:101
The Prophet ﷺ prayed two rakʿahs on journeys; Ibn ʿUmar and ʿĀʾisha describe his shortening and combining.
Bukhārī 1102 / Muslim 685 ṣaḥīḥ
Classical references
Hanafi: al-Hidāya · Radd al-Muḥtār
Maliki: al-Risāla · Mukhtaṣar Khalīl
Shāfiʿī: Minhāj al-Ṭālibīn
Hanbali: al-Mughnī · Zād al-Mustaqniʿ
Related lessons
Content is being reviewed for authenticity by a qualified scholar. Follow your local scholars for personal rulings.