Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

dear brother,

as-salamualaikum.

i have a doubt regarding shortening of prayers while travelling/journey. in the light of the holy quran chapter 4 verse 101 clearly says that theres no harm if we shorten our prayers while on journey if we fear of attack by enemy or non-muslim. the above ayyah is v.clear of the condition about shortening (i.e) under condition of attack. on the oter hand the hadith says (bukari 020;186)that we can shorten our prayers for 19 days when we are travelling there is no condition here.also there are hadith that says we can combine prayers while travelling. please clarify me why the hadith is contradicting quran??

jazak allah khair

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Answer:

Shorten prayers only attacked

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verses 101-102:

101 When ye travel through the earth there is no blame on you if ye shorten your prayers for fear the unbelievers may attack you: for the unbelievers are unto you open enemies.

102 When thou (O Prophet (saws)) art with them and standest to lead them in prayer let one party of them stand up (in prayer) with thee, taking their arms with them: when they finish their prostrations let them take their positions in the rear and let the other party come up which hath not yet prayed and let them pray with thee taking all precautions and bearing arms: the unbelievers wish if ye were negligent of your arms and your baggage to assault you in a single rush but there is no blame on you if ye put away your arms because of the inconvenience of rain or because ye are ill; but take (every) precaution for yourselves. For the unbelievers Allah hath prepared a humiliating punishment.

Beloved brother in Islam, it is indeed accurate that the leniency and concession to shorten one’s prayer when traveling was initially revealed for wartimes; but the Messenger of Allah (saws), under the direct guidance of Allah Subhanah, later made, applied, and implemented the guidance to shorten one’s prayer as a general command for all travel.

Beloved brother in Islam, rest assured that no human being in creation who was ever blessed to walk on this earth understood and implemented the guidance of the Glorious Quran better than the noble self of the Last and Final Messenger of Allah (saws); and there is sufficient evidence in the authentic and established Sunnah that whenever the Messenger of Allah (saws) and his noble companions traveled away from their resident city of Madinah, they would shorten their prayers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 5.593 Narrated by Ikrima

Ibn 'Abbas said, "We stayed for 19 days with Prophet (saws) on a journey during which we used to offer shortened prayers." Ibn 'Abbas added, "We offer the Qasr prayer (i.e. shortened prayer) If we stay up to 19 days as travelers, but if we stay longer, we offer complete prayers."

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 1231 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

The Messenger of Allah (saws) stayed at Tabuk twenty days; he (saws) shortened the prayer (during his stay).

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 2.195 Narrated by Anas bin Malik

I offered four Rakat of Zuhr prayer with the Prophet (saws) at Medina, and two Rakat at Dhul-Hulaifa. (i.e. shortened the 'Asr prayer).

Al-Muwatta Hadith 9.11

Yahya related from Malik from Nafi that Abdullah ibn Umar, shortened the prayer when he left for hajj or umra at Dhu'l Hulayfa.

Your Question: please clarify me why the hadith is contradicting quran??

In light of the above quoted guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, far from contradicting the Command of the Glorious Quran; the guidance and the practice of the Messenger of Allah (saws) complements and supplements the Command of the Quran.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan