Traveller Is Prescribed To Leave Sunnah Prayer Except For Fajr Salāh It was narrated that ‘Āsim b. ‘Umar b. al-Khattāb رضي الله عنه said: “I accompanied Ibn ‘Umar on the way to Makkah. He led us in praying two Rak’āt of Zuhr prayer, then he left and we left with him until he came to where his luggage was. He sat down and we sat with him, then he looked towards the place where we had prayed, and he saw some people standing and he asked, ‘What are these people doing?’ I said, ‘They are praying voluntary prayers.’ He said, ‘If I wanted to pray (Nāfil or Sunnah prayers) after the Fard (obligatory) prayer I would have completed my prayer (i.e., not shortened it).’ O son of my brother, I accompanied the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ whilst travelling and he did not add anything to these two Rak’āt until Allāh took him (in death); and I accompanied Abū Bakr and he did not add anything to these two Rak’āt until Allāh took him (in death); and I accompanied ‘Umar and he did not add anything to these two Rak’āt until Allāh took him (in death); and I accompanied ‘Uthmān and he did not add anything to these two Rak’āt until Allāh took him (in death). And Allāh says (interpretation of the meaning): ‘Indeed in the Messenger of Allāh (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow’ ● [al-Qur`ān 33:21].” Ibn al-Qayyim — رحمه الله — said: “This demonstrates his understanding, may Allāh be pleased with him. For Allāh has reduced the four Rak’āt prayers for the traveller by half. If it were prescribed to pray the two Rak’āt (of Sunnah prayer) before and after, it would be more appropriate to pray the Fard prayer in full.” ● [زاد المعاد ١\٣١٦] Also Ibn al-Qayyim — رحمه الله — mentioned: “It was the practice of the Prophet ﷺ when travelling to pray only the obligatory prayers, and it was not narrated that he used to pray the regular Sunnah prayers either before or after the Fard prayers, apart from Witr and the Sunnah of Fajr, which he never omitted whether he was travelling or not.” ● [زاد المعاد ١\٤٧٣]
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 14:00:07 +0000