6/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 686a — Shortening Prayer Is Allah's Charity
The travelers’ prayer and shortening it
Qasr Prayer Hadith: Accepting Allah's Charity in Travel Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 686a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 686a
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرُونَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عَمَّارٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بَابَيْهِ، عَنْ يَعْلَى بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لِعُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ { لَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَقْصُرُوا، مِنَ الصَّلاَةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَنْ يَفْتِنَكُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا} فَقَدْ أَمِنَ النَّاسُ فَقَالَ عَجِبْتُ مِمَّا عَجِبْتَ مِنْهُ فَسَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ ذَلِكَ . فَقَالَ " صَدَقَةٌ تَصَدَّقَ اللَّهُ بِهَا عَلَيْكُمْ فَاقْبَلُوا صَدَقَتَهُ " .
Yahya b. Umayya Narrated from:
I told 'Umar b. al-Khattab that Allah had said:" You may shorten the prayer only if you fear that those who are unbelievers may afflict you" (Qur'an, iv. 101), whereas the people are now safe. He replied: I wondered about it in the same way as you wonder about it, so I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about it and he said: It is an act of charity which Allah has done to you, so accept His charity.
[2] An-Nisâ' 4:101.Reference : Sahih Muslim 686aIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 4USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1461
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 686a
This Hadith is a direct answer about shortening prayer while travelling. Ya'la b. Umayya asked 'Umar about the Qur'anic mention of shortening prayer when there is fear, because people were now safe. 'Umar said he had wondered the same thing and asked the Messenger of Allah. The Prophet replied that it is an act of charity from Allah, so people should accept His charity. The core message is clear: qasr prayer is not limited in this report to fear alone. It is presented as a gift and ease from Allah for the traveller. The wording teaches acceptance of what Allah has allowed, without treating that ease as something small.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Companions asked when they needed clarity about prayer.
- The Prophet described shortening prayer as charity from Allah.
- The Hadith teaches acceptance of Allah's allowed ease.
- Safety did not remove qasr prayer in this report.
