6/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 685b — Prayer in Travel Kept at Two Rak'ahs
The travelers’ prayer and shortening it
Shortening Prayer While Travelling: The First Form of Salah
Sahih Muslim : 685b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 685b
وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، وَحَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ الصَّلاَةَ حِينَ فَرَضَهَا رَكْعَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ أَتَمَّهَا فِي الْحَضَرِ فَأُقِرَّتْ صَلاَةُ السَّفَرِ عَلَى الْفَرِيضَةِ الأُولَى .
A'isha Narrated from:
A'isha, the wife of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said Allah prescribed the prayer as two rak'ahs, then it was completed (to four rak'ahs) at the place of residence, but was retained in the same position in journey as it was first made obligatory.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 685bIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 2USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1459
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 685b
This narration from A'isha gives a simple wording about shortening prayer while travelling. It says Allah prescribed the prayer as two rak'ahs. Then the prayer at the place of residence was completed to four rak'ahs, while the prayer in journey remained as it was first made obligatory. For someone searching for a travel prayer hadith, this report directly answers why the traveller prays two rak'ahs in the prayers that are shortened. The Hadith does not add extra conditions in this wording. It keeps the focus on the difference between being resident and being on a journey, and it presents qasr prayer as something rooted in the original obligation.
What we learn from this hadith
- Allah first prescribed prayer as two rak'ahs in this narration.
- Resident prayer was completed to four rak'ahs.
- Travel prayer remained upon the first prescribed form.
- The report helps explain the basis of two rak'ahs for the traveller.
