Question:

Assalamilakum.

I have a question regarding salat ul qasr. I travel for my job, traveling 110 miles daily to work and 110 miles back. Unfortunately I have no place for prayers, and have been praying where and when I can. Is it permissible for me to pray salat ul qasr when at work even though I plan to return home every night, with intentions to resume regular prayers when home?

Jazakallah

Assalamilakum

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

In principle, if one intends to travel a distance of 55 miles or more, then the laws of Qasr (shortening one’s prayers) will apply.[1] The traveler will start to shorten his prayers upon crossing the furthest residential area of one’s own city.[2]

You state that you travel 110 miles to work daily. Based on the aforementioned, you will shorten your Salats at your workplace.

If the need to perform Salah arises whilst on the way to work, you will shorten your Salah if you have already crossed the furthest residential area of your city. And if the need arises to perform Salah on the way back from work, you will continue to shorten your Salats as long as you have not reached the residential area of your city. Upon reaching the residential area, the ruling of Qasr no longer applies.

This ruling is applicable even if one intends to return home the same day as is explained in the query.

Note: Salah is the Command of Allah Ta’ala. It is the demand of Iman that one performs every Salah on time, whatever condition one may be in, whether traveling or at home. The one who is punctual in performing 5 daily Salats on time daily, is guaranteed entrance into Jannah by Allah Ta’ala. Consider the following Hadith:

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: «إِنِّي فَرَضْتُ عَلَى أُمَّتِكَ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ وَعَهِدْتُ عِنْدِي عَهْدًا أَنَّهُ مَنْ جَاءَ يُحَافِظُ عَلَيْهِنَّ لِوَقْتِهِنَّ أَدْخَلْتُهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يُحَافِظْ عَلَيْهِنَّ فَلَا عَهْدَ لَهُ عِنْدِي» (سنن أبي داود، بَابٌ فِي الْمُحَافَظَةِ عَلَى وَقْتِ الصَّلَوَاتِ)

Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam said, “Allah Ta’ala says: Indeed I have ordained upon your Ummah five Salats and I have guaranteed entrance into Jannah for the one who protects and offers these Salats in their prescribed times. The one who does not guard these Salats, there is not guarantee for him.” (Abu Dawood)  

Hence, one who is traveling should always keep a Musalla (prayer rug) with him so that he may perform Salah whenever the time comes in wherever he may be.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

(Mufti) Abdul Azeem bin Abdur Rahman

Disclaimer:

The Shar’a ruling herein given is based specifically on the question posed and should be read in conjunction with the question.

Darul Iftaa Texas bears no responsibility to any party who may or may not act on this answer and is being hereby exempted from loss or damage howsoever caused.

This answer may not be used as evidence in any Court of Law without prior written consent of Darul Iftaa Texas.

[1] http://www.askimam.org/public/announcement/85 Last accessed 3-14-16

[2]  احسن الفتاوي، ج 4، ص 72، سعيد