Jamiatul Ulama KZN Council of Muslim Theologians
Nasihah (Advice): Angels descend to record your Prayers
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah radiyallahu anhu reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “A group of Angels stay with you by night and another group of Angels by day. They meet together at the time of afternoon prayer and dawn prayer, then those who stayed with you ascend to the heavens. Allah asks them, although He knows better than them: How did you leave My servants? The Angels say: We left them while they were praying and we came to them while they were praying.” [Sahih Bukhari]
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Question and Answer
- A person leaves his home in Cape Town and travels to Durban with the intention of staying for 20 days. He then shortens the Fard salaah and reads 2 rakaats Fard for Zohr, Asr and Eshaa. After 15 days he is still in Durban but now reverts to reading the full 4 Rakaats for the Zohr, Asr and Eshaa Salaah because he is no longer regarded as a Musaafir. Is this correct?
After 3 days ( total 18 days away from home), he travels to Estcourt for 3 days and then comes back to Durban for a week, before returning home to Cape Town. How should he perform Salaah in this situation?
- In principle, a person becomes a Musaafir (Shar’ee traveller) when he exits his hometown with the intention to travel for more than 78 kilometres from the point of exit of his hometown to the point of entry of the city he is going to.
In addition, if the person intends to stay for less than 15 days at his destination he will remain a Musaafir at his destination. If he intends to stay for more than 15 days at his destination then he will cease being a Musaafir from the time he enters his destination city.
In the enquired scenario, the person had intended to stay for more than 15 days in Durban. Accordingly, it was compulsory for him to perform all Salaah in full as he was not a Musaafir in Durban. He will thus have to make Qadha of all Fardh Salaah that were shortened.
Thereafter, he travelled to Ladysmith for less than 15 days. He is regarded as a Musaafir. Upon his return to Durban, he intended to stay for less than 15 days again and accordingly remains a Musaafir.
In summary, during the first 18 days in Durban, he was not regarded as a Musaafir and full Salaah applied. For the remainder of the days until his return home, he was regarded as a Musaafir. [Hindiyyah 1: 139]
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Moosa Salie
Mufti Taahir Hansa
(The answer hereby given is specifically based on the question asked and should be read together with the question asked. Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh unless otherwise stated.)
Fatwa Department
Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)
Council of Muslim Theologians
223 Alpine Road, Overport
Durban, South Africa
Tel : +27 (0) 31 2077099
Email: fatwa@jamiat.org.za
Fax : +27(0) 31 2074163
Website : www.jamiat.org.za
