A student is studying in one city and living in another: can he shorten his prayers?
Question A student travels to Riyadh to study in the University; he leaves on Friday evening and comes back to his family and his city on Monday afternoon. Does the ruling on travellers apply to him with regard to shortening and joining prayers?. Praise be to Allah. He is undoubtedly a traveller, because he has…
Question
Praise be to Allah.
He is undoubtedly a
traveller, because he has not taken the city where he studies as his
hometown, and he does not intend to settle there at all; rather he is
staying there for a purpose. But if he is in a city where prayers in
congregation are held regularly, then he has to attend the prayers in
congregation. As for the view that is widely held among some of the common
folk, that the traveller does not have to pray in congregation or offer
Friday prayer, there is no basis for this. Rather praying in congregation is
obligatory for the traveller even if he is in battle. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): “When you (O Messenger Muhammad
صلى الله عليه وسلم) are among them, and
lead them in As‑Salaah (the prayer), let one party of them stand up [in
Salaah (prayer)]…” [al-Nisa’ 4:102]. And Friday prayer is obligatory
upon everyone who can hear the call to prayer. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning): “O you who believe
(Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salaah (prayer) on Friday
(Jumu‘ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allaah [Jumu‘ah religious talk
(Khutbah) and Salaah (prayer)]…” [al-Jumu’ah 62:9]. But if you
miss a prayer (in congregation) when you are there, or you are in a place
that is far away from the mosques, then you may pray the four-rak’ah prayers
as two-rak’ahs. End quote.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him).
