Support IslamQA

Please contribute generously in order to ensure the continuity of our website InshaAllah.

Prayer of those who are waiting to depart or just arriving

29-08-1997

Question 92

What is the verdict in performing two salaat (prayers) together (jam'a) and shortening the prayer (qasr) at the airport for those who are waiting to fly or those who have just disembarked from an arriving plane?

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

If the airport, sea-port or railway station are within the outskirts of the traveler's home-town, or even linked to his/her home-town by contiguous dwellings or buildings, no license to shorten prayers is allowed, since he/she would not be considered to have departed the dwelling or town. Once the plane, ship, or train has traveled away from all housing and buildings, only then is he/she allowed to shorten and/or perform together two prayers. If the airport, harbor, or train station is outside the home town, a traveler is allowed to utilize the license to shorten and combine two prayers together based on the fact that he or she in this case has departed from his/her city and has already commenced on his/her journey.
Prayer of the Traveler
Show on Islam Q&A website.