How Far Must You Travel to Shorten Your Prayer?

Shaykh Bali said plainly — he does not know of any hadith from the Prophet ﷺ that fixes the distance; everything else is the ijtihad of the Companions.

How the Question Comes

The question came from a traveler — I go from one place to another, and the adhan for Maghrib and Isha is called on the way. The distance is about 74 kilometers. Can I shorten the prayer?

Because each person says something different. Some say it is not valid if it is less than 80 kilometers; others say two kilometers is enough.

In the middle stands the person, left standing there. What if he prays less by mistake? And what if he prays the full prayer even though the Sunnah is there?

Shaykh Bali began his answer with an admission — something many people do not want to say.

The Shaykh's Answer

The Shaykh says — I do not know of any hadith from the Prophet ﷺ that fixes the distance for shortening the prayer.

The scholars' differences range from four burud (about 80 kilometers) down to one mile. The Shaykh says these are the ijtihad of the Companions, not a marfu' hadith directly attributed to the Prophet ﷺ.

However, there is a narration from Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) in Sahih Muslim. The Shaykh's preferred view — here Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) did not state his own opinion, but described the practice of the Prophet ﷺ; so this is the evidence. Out of caution, take the larger measure: three farsakh, that is, about 17 kilometers.

The Evidence — What Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) Narrated

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا خَرَجَ مَسِيرَةَ ثَلَاثَةِ أَمْيَالٍ أَوْ ثَلَاثَةِ فَرَاسِخَ صَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ

When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out on a journey of three miles or three farsakh, he would pray two rak'ahs. (Sahih Muslim — the narrator Shu'bah (may Allah have mercy on him) doubted which of the two words was said)Copy

Some have explained that the Prophet ﷺ would begin shortening only after passing three farsakh. The Shaykh says there is a problem with this — on the Hajj journey he prayed two rak'ahs at Dhul-Hulayfah, which is less than 7 kilometers from Madinah.

What to Do

1. If your journey goes beyond 17 kilometers, it is permissible to shorten the prayer — and you will also receive the other concessions of travel.
2. If you are unsure about the distance, take caution — adopt the view of the larger measure.
3. This is a matter on which scholars differ — do not blame someone who follows a different view.
4. Tell a trustworthy scholar your own situation and be certain — not by guesswork.

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Source: Based on a talk by Shaykh Wahid Abdussalam Bali

Translation and compilation: Raqi Faisal Ahmed Sabit — Al Qur'an Ruqyah Healing Center