6/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 692a — Eighteen Miles and Two Rak'ahs
The travelers’ prayer and shortening it
Shortening Prayer Distance Hadith: Seventeen or Eighteen Miles
Sahih Muslim : 692a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 692a
حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ مَهْدِيٍّ، - قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، - حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ خُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ نُفَيْرٍ، قَالَ خَرَجْتُ مَعَ شُرَحْبِيلَ بْنِ السِّمْطِ إِلَى قَرْيَةٍ عَلَى رَأْسِ سَبْعَةَ عَشَرَ أَوْ ثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ مِيلاً فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ . فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فَقَالَ رَأَيْتُ عُمَرَ صَلَّى بِذِي الْحُلَيْفَةِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا أَفْعَلُ كَمَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَفْعَلُ .
Jubair bin Nufair Narrated from:
I went along with Shurahbil b. al-Simt to a village which was situated at a distance of seventeen or eighteen miles, and he said only two rak'ahs of prayer. I said to him (about it) and he said: I saw 'Umar observing two rak'ahs at Dhu'l-Hulaifa and I (too) said to him (about it) and he said: I am doing the same as I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) doing.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 692aIn-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 15USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1472
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 692a
This Hadith gives another travel prayer example tied to distance and following the Prophet's action. Jubair b. Nufair went with Shurahbil b. al-Simt to a village about seventeen or eighteen miles away. Shurahbil prayed only two rak'ahs. When Jubair asked him about it, Shurahbil said he saw 'Umar pray two rak'ahs at Dhu'l-Hulaifa. When 'Umar was asked, he said he was doing what he saw the Messenger of Allah doing. The main message is not a full legal chart of travel distances. The text shows a chain of practice: Shurahbil followed 'Umar, and 'Umar followed what he saw from the Prophet in travel prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- Shurahbil prayed two rak'ahs at the stated travel distance.
- He based his action on what he saw from 'Umar.
- 'Umar based his action on what he saw from the Prophet.
- The Hadith teaches following the Prophet's practice through reliable observation.
