6/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 687b — Traveller, Resident, and Danger Prayer
The travelers’ prayer and shortening it
Qasr Salah Hadith: Two Rak'ahs for the Traveller
Sahih Muslim : 687b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 687b
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، - قَالَ عَمْرٌو حَدَّثَنَا قَاسِمُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ الْمُزَنِيُّ، - حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ بْنُ عَائِذٍ الطَّائِيُّ، عَنْ بُكَيْرِ بْنِ الأَخْنَسِ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ فَرَضَ الصَّلاَةَ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّكُمْ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الْمُسَافِرِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَعَلَى الْمُقِيمِ أَرْبَعًا وَفِي الْخَوْفِ رَكْعَةً .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Allah has prescribed the prayer by the tongue of your Apostle (ﷺ) as two rak'ahs for the traveller, four for the resident, and one in danger.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 687bIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 7USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1464
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 687b
This narration from Ibn 'Abbas states the same key teaching in a direct order: Allah prescribed prayer by the tongue of the Prophet as two rak'ahs for the traveller, four for the resident, and one in danger. For people looking up qasr salah, this Hadith is easy to follow because it places the traveller first. It shows that the shortened travel prayer is not presented here as a weak or casual action. It is described as something prescribed. The Hadith also keeps the matter balanced by mentioning the resident and the danger situation. The explanation should stay within the text: the report is about the number of rak'ahs in these states.
What we learn from this hadith
- The traveller is given two rak'ahs in this report.
- The resident is given four rak'ahs.
- Danger prayer is mentioned as one rak'ah.
- The Hadith teaches that the prayer form is linked to the worshipper's situation.
