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Shortening the prayer when returning from cancelled travel plans

29-08-1997

Question 86

If one who is traveling decides to return and alters his travel plan should he shorten his prayer on his way back?

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

If what remains from his return trip would commonly be known locally as "travel," then there is no objection to his shortening the prayer. This opinion would be the ruling as per those who regard what is commonly accepted by custom and traditions in the local area as the basis for defining travel. As for the majority of scholars (al-jumhoor), they place the condition that the distance for the return in and of itself must meet the distance required to be considered travel (88.7 km plus or minus), even if he is returning to get something he forgot and plans to return to his original travel plans. This is because the return trip should be considered an independent travel in and of itself.
Prayer of the Traveler
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