Traveler's prayer
part 5

The fifth condition is that the purpose of traveling should not be Haraam. Therefore, if a person travels to do something unlawful, like to commit theft, he should offer full prayers. The same rule applies when travelling itself is Haraam, like when traveling involves a harm which is Haraam in Shariah, or when a wife travels without the permission of her husband or a child against the negative order of his/her parents, for a journey which is not obligatory upon her. But if it is an obligatory journey, like that of Wajib Hajj, then shortened prayers should be offered.

1317. A journey which is a cause of displeasure of one’s parents, is Haraam. And while going on such a journey, one should offer full prayers and should also fast.

1318. A person whose journey is not Haraam, nor is it for a purpose which is Haraam, should shorten his prayers even if he may, during the journey, commit some sin like, indulging in Gheebat (backbiting) or taking alcohol.

1319. If a person undertakes a journey to avoid some obligatory act, he should offer full prayer. Hence, if one owes some money and he can pay and the creditor wants it, undertakes a journey to avoid the demand of his/her creditor and he is not able to pay the debt while in journey, as an obligatory precaution, must offer both short and full Namaz; but if he/she has not undertaken a journey especially for this purpose (there are other purposes), he/she must offer shortened Namaz, but as an obligatory precaution, he must offer both shortened and full Namaz.

1320. If one whose journey is not Haraam, travels on a vehicle or on an animal which is usurped, his/her Namaz should be shortened, but if he/she travels in usurped lands, as an obligatory precaution, he/she must offer both shortened and full Namaz.

1321. If a person is traveling with an oppressor, of his own volition, and by so doing is helpful to the oppressor in his inequity, he should offer full prayers. But if he is helpless, or if he is traveling with the oppressor to save the oppressed person, he should shorten his prayers.

1322. If a person travels for recreation and outing, his journey is not Haraam, and he should shorten his prayers.

1323. If a person goes out for hunting, with the object of sport and pleasure, his prayers will be full. But if a person goes out for hunting, to earn his livelihood, he should offer shortened prayers. Similarly, if he goes for business and increase in his wealth, he will pray both shortened and full. But he/she must fast.

1324. If a person has journeyed to commit a sin, he should, on his return shorten his prayers, if repented (Tawba). But if his return is considered as a part of sinful journey by public, as a precautionary act, he/she must pray shortened and full prayers.

1325. If a person traveling with the purpose of committing a sin, abandons the idea during his journey, he will pray short if the remaining distance from there, or the total of going and returning from there is not 8 Farsakh, provided that outward trip is not less than 4 Farsakh.

1326. If a person who originally set forth on a journey with no intention of sin, decides during his journey to make it a journey of sin, he will offer full prayers. However, the prayers which he might have prayed in short form until then, will be in order.