Fatwa's Insights - Worship

THE 60TH MEETING OF THE PERLIS STATE FATWA COMMITTEE / 2022

16 - 17 OKTOBER 2022 / 19 - 20 RABIUL AWWAL 1444H

FATWA CONCERNING THE PERMISSIBLE DURATION FOR COMBINING AND SHORTENING PRAYERS

1. The scholars unanimously agree that a traveller is permitted to shorten four-rak‘ah prayers to two rak‘ahs. The majority of scholars concur that a traveller may also combine prayers, with the exception of the Hanafi School, which restricts this to Muzdalifah during Hajj.

2. Nevertheless, scholars hold differing opinions regarding the distance that permits combination and shortening, as well as the duration that permits a traveller to perform combined and shortened prayers.

3. As for the distance that permits a person to perform combined and shortened prayers, a fatwa has been issued by this Committee entitled "Fatwa on the Distance for Shortened (Qasar) Prayers".

4. Concerning the duration permitting combination and shortening, this Committee—having examined the diverse opinions among the scholars of the four schools and others—concludes as follows:

a. A traveler cognizant of the duration of his stay at a place may combine and shorten prayers so long as that period does not exceed three days, irrespective of the day of arrival and departure. Should he know his stay exceeds three days (excluding entry and exit days), he may not combine or shorten from the moment of arrival. This is the position upheld in the Shafi‘i school and by numerous other jurists. This view more stringently binds one in assessing the permissible tenure during travel. Additionally, scholars such as Imam Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Qayyim opine that a traveler may continually combine and shorten prayers without temporal constraint, so long as he intends return to his origin or onward travel upon concluding his affairs. This second opinion facilitates those encumbered by extensive duties at the travel locale exceeding three days. Both opinions are viable; yet the first is more cautious.

b. As for a traveller who is in a particular place without stipulating the duration of his stay therein, but rather dependent upon the affairs to be managed which may involve a brief or extended period, then he may perform combined and shortened prayers without being limited to a specific duration even if it takes a considerable time. This is the opinion of the majority of scholars from among the Hanafi, Maliki, Hanbali Schools and Ibn Uthaimin.

c. A person who travels constantly without settling in a particular place, such as a pilot, sailor, astronaut, public transport driver and the like, then throughout the duration of his travel he may perform combined and shortened prayers.

d. One possessing two or more residences at traveler's distance may not combine or shorten at his primary residence.

Approval of Members of the Perlis State Fatwa Committee:

1. YBhg. S.S Professor Dato' Arif Perkasa Dr Mohd Asri Bin Zainul Abidin – Mufti of Perlis

2. Sahibul Fadhilah Ustaz Tajul Urus bin Abdul Halim – Deputy Mufti of Perlis

3. Sahibul Fadhilah Dato' Dr. Johari bin Mat

4. Sahibul Fadhilah Professor Dr. Basri bin Ibrahim

5. Sahibul Fadhilah Associate Professor Dr. Muhamad Rozaimi bin Ramle

6. Sahibul Fadhilah Dr. Hj Zaharuddin Bin Hj Abdul Rahman

7. Sahibul Fadhilah Professor Dr. Azman Bin Mohd Noor

8. Sahibul Fadhilah Associate Professor Dr. Mohd Akram Bin Dato' Dahaman @ Dahlan

9. Sahibul Fadhilah Dr. Kamilin bin Jamilin

10. Sahibul Fadhilah Dr. Ahmad Sufian Bin Che Abdullah

11. Sahibul Fadhilah Associate Professor Dr Ahmad Wifaq Bin Mokhtar

12. Sahibul Fadhilah Ustaz Syed Abu Bakar Bin Syed Kamal Bharin

13. Sahibul Fadhilah Dr. Muhammad Lukman Bin Mat Sin

14. Ustaz Muhammad Khidhir Bin Abdul Ghani – Secretary

Resolved/Approved at the Meeting of the Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat Melayu Perlis Bil. 6/2022 on 25 November 2022.