Qasr prayer, how to pray when travelling.
Enter how far you are going and how long you will stay, and see whether you shorten your prayers. The Hanafi rule comes first, then the other madhhabs.
| Prayer | At home | Travelling (qasr) |
|---|---|---|
| Fajr | 2 | 2 |
| Dhuhr | 4 | 2 |
| Asr | 4 | 2 |
| Maghrib | 3 | 3 |
| Isha | 4 | 2 |
| Witr | 3 | 3 |
Count the distance from the edge of your town to your destination, by the usual route.
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Guide
Travel prayer, the Hanafi rules first.
In the Hanafi school, a journey of about 77 to 78 km (48 miles) or more makes you a traveller. You then pray the four-rakah prayers, Dhuhr, Asr and Isha, as two rakahs, until you return home or decide to stay somewhere for 15 days or more. Fajr, Maghrib and witr are never shortened. Allah says:
وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَن يَفْتِنَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ كَانُوا۟ لَكُمْ عَدُوًّۭا مُّبِينًۭا ﴿١٠١﴾
Wa izaa darabtum fil ardi falaisa 'alaikum junaahun an taqsuroo minas Salaati in khiftum ai yaftinakumul lazeena kafarooo; innal kaafireena kaanoo lakum aduwwam mubeenaa
And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy.
Quran 4:101 (Surah An-Nisa), translation by Sahih International.
How to pray when travelling, step by step
- Start once you leave your town. Shortening begins when you pass the last houses of your town or city, not when you decide to travel or pack.
- Pray Dhuhr, Asr and Isha as two rakahs. Intend "two rakahs of Dhuhr, as a traveller". Pray them like Fajr: Al-Fatiha and a surah in both rakahs, one sitting, then salam.
- Pray Fajr, Maghrib and witr as usual. They stay two, three and three.
- Keep the sunnah of Fajr. The other sunnahs may be left while you are on the move, and prayed when you are settled and have time.
- Behind a resident imam, pray four. If you join an imam who is praying four, follow him and pray all four.
- If you lead residents, pray two. Tell them, "Complete your prayer, I am a traveller," and they stand and pray the other two on their own.
- Stop shortening when you are home again, or once you intend to stay 15 days or more in one town.
Qasr is wajib for a traveller, not a choice. Praying four on purpose is wrong (makruh tahrimi); if you sat after the second rakah, the extra two count as nafl and the fard is done. The distance is three days' travel at a camel's pace, which the later Hanafi scholars put at 48 miles, about 77 to 78 km. You stay a traveller at your destination unless you intend to stay there 15 days or more. Real combining of two prayers in one time is only at Arafah and Muzdalifah during Hajj. A traveller may instead pray Dhuhr at the end of its time and Asr at the start of its time.1
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Shortening is a concession: you may shorten or pray in full. The distance is four barid, about 81 to 89 km by modern estimates. Intending to stay four full days, not counting the days you arrive and leave, ends the concession. Combining Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha is allowed while travelling.
- Maliki
- Shortening is a confirmed sunnah. The distance is four barid, similar to the Shafi'i figure. An intended stay of four full days (20 prayers) ends it. Combining is allowed when on the move.
- Hanbali
- Shortening is better than praying in full. The distance is about 81 to 89 km. Intending to stay more than four days (more than 20 prayers) ends it. Combining is allowed while travelling.
Missed prayers on a journey
A prayer you missed while travelling is made up as two rakahs, even at home. A prayer you missed at home is made up as four, even while travelling. Track missed prayers with the qada calculator.
Flights, cars and trains
Pray the fard standing and facing the qibla if you can, for example in an airport or at a rest stop. On a plane, pray standing in a quiet area if possible. If you truly cannot, pray in your seat, and repeat the prayer later, which many Hanafi scholars advise as the safer course. The Prophet ﷺ prayed voluntary prayers on his mount facing wherever it went, but came down for the fard.2 Use the qibla finder and the dua for travel.
Our check uses 77.25 km, the 48 miles of the later Hanafi scholars. Some put it a little higher, at 78 km or more, so if your journey is right on the line, ask a local scholar.
- Al-Marghinani, al-Hidayah, Bab Salat al-Musafir; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar. Sahih al-Bukhari 1090, from Aishah: prayer was first made two rakahs, then kept that way for travel. The other madhhabs' positions are summarised from their standard manuals.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 1000, from Ibn Umar. Quran 4:101, translation by Sahih International.
The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.
Questions
Good to know.
How far do you have to travel to pray qasr?
In the Hanafi school, about 77 to 78 km (48 miles) or more, one way. The Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali schools put it at about 81 to 89 km.
How many days can you pray qasr?
In the Hanafi school, as long as you do not intend to stay 15 days or more in one place. In the other schools, an intended stay of about four days ends it.
Which prayers are shortened when travelling?
Only the four-rakah fard prayers: Dhuhr, Asr and Isha become two rakahs. Fajr, Maghrib and witr stay the same.
Can I combine prayers when travelling?
Not in the Hanafi school, except at Arafah and Muzdalifah during Hajj. You may pray Dhuhr late in its time and Asr early in its time. The other three schools allow combining while travelling.
Do I pray sunnah prayers when travelling?
Keep the two sunnah of Fajr. The other sunnahs may be left when you are on the move, and prayed when you are settled.
When does qasr start?
Once you have left the built-up area of your town or city, not before.