6/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 685c — Travel Prayer and Personal Interpretation
The travelers’ prayer and shortening it
Qasr Prayer Hadith: Travel Prayer, Resident Prayer, and Interpretation
Sahih Muslim : 685c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 685c
وَحَدَّثَنِي عَلِيُّ بْنُ خَشْرَمٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ الصَّلاَةَ، أَوَّلَ مَا فُرِضَتْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَأُقِرَّتْ صَلاَةُ السَّفَرِ وَأُتِمَّتْ صَلاَةُ الْحَضَرِ . قَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ فَقُلْتُ لِعُرْوَةَ مَا بَالُ عَائِشَةَ تُتِمُّ فِي السَّفَرِ قَالَ إِنَّهَا تَأَوَّلَتْ كَمَا تَأَوَّلَ عُثْمَانُ .
A'isha Narrated from:
The prayer was prescribed as consisting of two rak'ahs, the prayer in travelling remained the same, but the prayer at the place of residence was completed. (Zuhri said he asked 'Urwa why 'A'isha said prayer in the complete form during journey, and he replied that she interpreted the matter herself as 'Uthman did.)
[1] Meaning, why would she pray four Rak'ah while travelling.Reference : Sahih Muslim 685cIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 3USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1460
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 685c
This Hadith explains qasr prayer through A'isha's report that prayer was first prescribed as two rak'ahs. The prayer in travel stayed the same, while the prayer at the place of residence was completed. This narration also includes a question from Zuhri to 'Urwa: why did A'isha herself pray the complete form during travel? 'Urwa answered that she interpreted the matter herself as 'Uthman did. The main teaching here is not to mix the report with details from other events. The text gives both the original rule described by A'isha and a note that her own later practice was based on interpretation.
What we learn from this hadith
- The traveller's prayer is described as remaining in its first two-rak'ah form.
- Resident prayer is described as completed after the first prescription.
- The narration notes that A'isha's own practice during travel was based on interpretation.
- The Hadith shows the value of asking when a report and a practice seem different.
