VOLUME 2 – 270 – TRAVEL PRAYER
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated:
Prayer was ordained during travel and at home, two rak'ahs each. The traveler’s prayer was left as is. Additional rak'ahs were added to the prayer performed at home. [198]
**Explanation:**
This hadith serves as evidence for the original obligation of two rak'ahs (prayers) performed by guests.
According to Imam al-Shafi’i, it is obligatory to shorten the four-rak'ah prayers during travel to two rak'ahs. According to al-Shafi’i and Malik (may Allah be pleased with them), performing the full prayer or shortening it are both permissible. (‘Avn al-Mabud, vol. 1, p. 464)
Yâ’lâ bin Umayya (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
That someone said to ‘Umar bin al-Khattab: “Do you not see that the people shorten their prayers during travel?”
He [Allah] Most High said: "If you fear that the disbelievers will incite you into a trial, then it is permissible for you to shorten your prayer.”
I said, “Indeed, those fearful days have passed.”
‘Umar then said: “Just as you are astonished by this, I was astonished by it. I mentioned it to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘It is a charity, and Allah has granted it to you. Accept Allah’s charity.’” [199]
COMMENTARY
Hattabi says: The essential thing in prayers is to complete them. Shortening is a later development. If this were not the case, would ‘Umar bin al-Khattab and Yâ’lâ bin Umayya be astonished at shortening prayer except for fear? Their astonishment indicates that shortening is from a complete original [prayer], where some parts are removed and others remain as they are.
I heard Ibn ‘Urayq say, “I heard Abdullah ibn Abi Ammar say…” and he narrated the preceding hadith.
Abu Dawud said: Abu Asim and Hammad ibn Mas'ada related it to me in the same way as Ibn Bakr transmitted it.