6/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 685a — Travel Prayer Began as Two Rak'ahs
The travelers’ prayer and shortening it
Qasr Prayer Hadith: Travel Prayer and the Original Two Rak'ahs
Sahih Muslim : 685a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 685a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ كَيْسَانَ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ فُرِضَتِ الصَّلاَةُ رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فِي الْحَضَرِ وَالسَّفَرِ فَأُقِرَّتْ صَلاَةُ السَّفَرِ وَزِيدَ فِي صَلاَةِ الْحَضَرِ .
A'isha Narrated from:
The prayer was prescribed as two rak'ahs, two rak'ahs both in journey and at the place of residence. The prayer while travelling remained as it was (originally prescribed), but an addition was made in the prayer (observed) at the place of residence.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 685aIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 1USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1458
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 685a
This Hadith explains a clear point about qasr prayer, or shortening prayer while travelling. A'isha reports that prayer was first prescribed as two rak'ahs, both for people at home and for people on a journey. Later, the prayer at the place of residence was increased, while the travel prayer stayed in its first form. The main lesson is simple: the traveller's prayer has a special place in Islamic prayer practice. The text does not speak about every detail of travel rules. It focuses on the number of rak'ahs and shows that the shortened prayer during a journey was not a later shortcut, but remained upon its original form.
What we learn from this hadith
- Prayer while travelling remained two rak'ahs in this report.
- Resident prayer was later increased from its first form.
- The Hadith connects qasr prayer with the early prescription of prayer.
- The report teaches care in knowing the difference between travel prayer and resident prayer.
