The Prophet once stayed for nineteen days and prayed
shortened prayers. So when we travel led (and stayed) for
nineteen days, we used to shorten the prayer but if we
travelled (and stayed) for a longer period we used to
offer the full prayer.
I heard Anas saying, "We travelled with the Prophet
from Medina to Mecca and offered two Rakat (for every
prayer) till we returned to Medina." I said, "Did you stay
for a while in Mecca?" He replied, "We stayed in Mecca for
ten days."
I offered the prayer with the Prophet, Abu Bakr and 'Umar
at Mina and it was of two Rakat. 'Uthman in the early days
of his caliphate did the same, but later on he started
praying the full prayer.
We offered a four Rakat prayer at Mina behind Ibn 'Affan
. 'Abdullah bin Masud was informed about it. He said
sadly, "Truly to Allah we belong and truly to Him we shall
return." And added, "I prayed two Rakat with Allah's
Apostle at Mina and similarly with Abu Bakr and with 'Umar
(during their caliphates)." He further said, "May I be
lucky enough to have two of the four Rakat accepted (by
Allah)."
The Prophet and his companions reached Mecca in the
morning of the 4th Dhul-Hijja reciting Talbiya (O Allah!
We are obedient to your orders, we respond 4 to your call)
. . . intending to perform Hajj. The Prophet ordered his
companions to assume the lhram for Umra instead of Hajj,
excepting those who had Hadi (sacrifice) with them.
The Prophet said, "A woman should not travel for more
than three days except with a Dhi-Mahram (i.e. a male with
whom she cannot marry at all, e.g. her brother, father,
grandfather, etc.) or her own husband.)"
The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, "It is not permissible for
a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to travel
for one day and night except with a Mahram."
"When the prayers were first enjoined they were of two
Rakat each. Later the prayer in a journey was kept as it
was but the prayers for non-travellers were completed."
Az-Zuhri said, "I asked 'Urwa what made Aisha pray the
full prayers (in journey)." He replied, "She did the same
as 'Uthman did."
"I saw Allah's Apostle delaying the Maghrib prayer till
he offered it along with the 'Isha' prayer whenever he was
in a hurry during the journey." Salim narrated, "Ibn 'Umar
used to do the same whenever he was in a hurry during the
journey." And Salim added, "Ibn 'Umar used to pray the
Maghrib and 'Isha' prayers together in Al-Muzdalifa."
Salim said, "Ibn 'Umar delayed the Maghrib prayer because
at that time he heard the news of the death of his wife
Safiya bint Abi 'Ubaid. I said to him, 'The prayer (is
due).' He said, 'Go on.' Again I said, 'The prayer (is
due).' He said, 'Go on,' till we covered two or three
miles. Then he got down, prayed and said, 'I saw the
Prophet praying in this way, whenever he was in a hurry
during the journey.' 'Abdullah (bin 'Umar) added,
"Whenever the Prophet was in a hurry, he used to delay the
Maghrib prayer and then offer three Rakat (of the Maghrib)
and perform Taslim, and after waiting for a short while,
Iqama used to be pronounced for the 'Isha' prayer when he
would offer two Rakat and perform Taslim. He would never
offer any optional prayer till the middle of the night
(when he used to pray the Tahajjud)."
On traveling, 'Abdullah bin 'Umar used to offer the
prayer on his Mount by signs whatever direction it took.
'Abdullah said that the Prophet used to do so.
I saw the Prophet on his Mount praying Nawafil by
nodding his head, whatever direction he faced, but Allah's
Apostle never did the same in offering the compulsory
prayers. Narrated Salim: At night'Abdullah bin 'Umar used
to offer the prayer on the back of his animal during the
journey and never cared about the direction he faced. Ibn
'Umar said, "Allah's Apostle used to offer the optional
prayer on the back of his Mount facing any direction and
also used to pray the Witr on it but never offered the
compulsory prayer on it."
The Prophet used to pray (the Nawafil) on his Mount
facing east and whenever he wanted to offer the compulsory
prayer, he used to dismount and face the Qibla.
We went to receive Anas bin Malik when he returned from
Sham and met him at a place called 'Ain-at-Tamr. I saw him
praying riding the donkey, with his face to this
direction, i.e. to the left of the Qibla. I said to him,
"I have seen you offering the prayer in a direction other
than that of the Qibla." He replied, "If I had not seen
Allah's Apostle doing it, I would not have done it."
Ibn 'Umar went on a journey and said, "I accompanied
the Prophet and he did not offer optional prayers during
the journey, and Allah says: 'Verily! In Allah's Apostle
you have a good example to follow.' " (33.21)
Only Um Hani told us that she had seen the Prophet (p.b.u.h)
offering the Duha (forenoon prayer). She said, "On the day
of the conquest of Mecca, the Prophet took a bath in my
house and offered eight Rakat. I never saw him praying
such a light prayer but he performed perfect prostration
and bowing. Narrated 'Abdullah bin amir that his father
had told him that he had seen the Prophet (p.b.u.h)
praying Nawafil at night on the back of his Mount on a
journey, facing whatever direction it took.
Ibn 'Umar said, "Allah's Apostle used to pray the
Nawafil on the back of his Mount (carriage) by signs
facing any direction." Ibn 'Umar used to do the same.
The Prophet used to offer the Maghrib and Isha' prayers
together whenever he was in a hurry on a journey.
Narrated Ibn Abbas: Allah's Apostle used to offer the
Zuhr and 'Asr prayers together on journeys, and also used
to offer the Maghrib and 'Isha' prayers together.
Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet used to offer the
Maghrib and the 'Isha' prayers together on journeys.
Salim told me, "'Abdullah bin 'Umar said, 'I saw
Allah's Apostle delaying the Maghrib prayer till he
offered it along with the Isha prayer whenever he was in a
hurry during the journey.' " Salim said, "Abdullah bin
Umar used to do the same whenever he was in a hurry during
the journey. After making the call for Iqama, for the
Maghrib prayer he used to offer three Rakat and then
perform Tasllm. After waiting for a short while, he would
pronounce the Iqama for the 'Isha' prayer and offer two
Rakat and perform Taslim. He never prayed any Nawafil in
between the two prayers or after the 'Isha' prayers till
he got up in the middle of the night (for Tahajjud
prayer)."
Whenever the Prophet started a journey before noon, he
used to delay the Zuhr prayer till the time of 'Asr and
then offer them together; and if the sun declined (at
noon) he used to offer the Zuhr prayer and then ride (for
the journey).
Whenever the Prophet started the journey before noon,
he used to delay the Zuhr prayer till the time for the 'Asr
prayer and then he would dismount and pray them together;
and whenever the sun declined before he started the
journey he used to offer the Zuhr prayer and then ride
(for the journey).
Allah's Apostle prayed in his house while sitting
during his illness and the people prayed behind him
standing and he pointed to them to sit down. When he had
finished the prayer, he said, "The Imam is to be followed
and so when he bows you should bow; and when he lifts his
head you should also do the same."
Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) fell down from a horse and
his right side was either injured or scratched, so we went
to inquire about his health. The time for the prayer
became due and he offered the prayer while sitting and we
prayed while standing. He said, "The Imam is to be
followed; so if he says Takbir, you should also say Takbir,
and if he bows you should also bow; and when he lifts his
head you should also do the same and if he says:
Sami'a-l-lahu Liman Hamidah (Allah hears whoever sends his
praises to Him) you should say: Rabbana walakal-Hamd (O
our Lord! All the praises are for You.") (See Hadith No.
656 Vol. 1).
(who had piles) I asked Allah's Apostle about the
praying of a man while sitting. He said, "If he prays
while standing it is better and he who prays while sitting
gets half the reward of that who prays standing; and
whoever prays while Lying gets half the reward of that who
prays while sitting."
'Imran bin Husain had piles. Once Abu Ma mar narrated
from 'Imran bin Husain had said, "I asked the Prophet (p.b.u.h)
about the prayer of a person while sitting. He said, 'It
is better for one to pray standing; and whoever prays
sitting gets half the reward of that who prays while
standing; and whoever prays while Lying gets half the
reward of that who prays while sitting.' "
had piles, so I asked the Prophet about the prayer. He
said, "Pray while standing and if you can't, pray while
sitting and if you cannot do even that, then pray Lying on
your side."
(the mother of the faithful believers) I never saw
Allah's Apostle offering the night prayer while sitting
except in his old age and then he used to recite while
sitting and whenever he wanted to bow he would get up and
recite thirty or forty verses (while standing) and then
bow.
(the mother of the faithful believers) Allah's Apostle
(in his last days) used to pray sitting. He would recite
while sitting, and when thirty or forty verses remained
from the recitation he would get up and recite them while
standing and then he would bow and prostrate. He used to
do the same in the second Raka. After finishing the Prayer
he used to look at me and if I was awake he would talk to
me and if I was asleep, he would lie down.