The Number of Rakats While Traveling

 

Question: I would like to know how many rakats we should pray when we are travelling. Do we pray these number of rakats when we are in a safe place staying only for a few days? Is it acceptable to pray the normal amount of rakats as what we usually do at home whilst travelling?

In the name of Allah, the inspirer of truth. All praise is to Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate, and all blessings and peace to our Master Muhammad, his family, companions, and those who follow them.

If a person intends travelling a distance of 81km then it is wajib to shorten all four rakat obligatory prayers and pray them as two rakat prayers as soon as one leaves ones city or town.  One must keep doing so until one returns to ones place of residence or intends staying in a particular place for a duration of fifteen days.

A traveller prays the sunna prayers when not physically engaged in travel and may leave them otherwise.  Some scholars except the sunna of fajr from this and say that it should be offered even when engaged in travel as it is so strongly emphasised.  [al-Hadiyya al-'Ala'iyya 108].

And Allah knows best, and He alone gives success.

Sohail Hanif