Short answer
In the Hanafi school, about 48 miles (roughly 77 km) from your town, and you stay a traveller unless you intend to stay 15 days or more in one place. Qasr is wajib for Hanafis: Dhuhr, Asr and Isha become two rakats. The other schools use a similar distance but a four-day stay, and treat qasr as optional or sunnah.
A journey of three days' travel, estimated at about 48 miles or 77 km, makes you a traveller once you leave your town's built-up area. You pray the four rakat fard prayers as two (qasr is wajib) until you intend to stay 15 days or more in one place. Praying four on purpose is makruh tahrimi; behind a resident imam you pray four.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- About 80 km or more; intending to stay four full days ends travel; qasr is an option and praying in full is allowed.
- Maliki
- About 48 miles; a stay of four days ends travel; qasr is a confirmed sunnah.
- Hanbali
- About 80 km or more; a stay of more than four days ends travel; qasr is better but praying in full is allowed.
Explanation
Allah says there is no blame on you for shortening the prayer when you travel, and the Prophet ﷺ called it a charity from Allah that we should accept. The Hanafi school treats it as wajib: the traveller's Dhuhr, Asr and Isha are two rakats. Fajr, Maghrib and witr do not change.
- Distance: the journey must be at least about 48 miles (77 km) from your town. Some Hanafi scholars give a figure a little higher; your local scholars will tell you which they use.
- When it starts: once you pass the last houses or built-up area of your town, not at your front door.
- How long: you stay a traveller until you intend to stay 15 days or more in one town. If you keep extending day by day without that intention, you remain a traveller.
- Coming home: once you re-enter your home town, you pray in full again.
- Behind a resident imam: pray four with him.
Sunnah prayers while travelling: when you are on the move or in a hurry you may leave the regular sunnah prayers; when you are settled and at ease, pray them. Keep the two before Fajr and witr. Ibn Umar did not pray the sunnah on journeys, saying that if he were to pray extra he would rather complete the fard.
Our guide to qasr prayer covers the details, and praying on a plane or train covers the vehicle itself.
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Nisaa 4:101
وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَن يَفْتِنَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ كَانُوا۟ لَكُمْ عَدُوًّۭا مُّبِينًۭا ﴿١٠١﴾
And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy.
Shortening the prayer is permitted for travellers.
Sahih Muslim 686
Sahih... صدقة تصدق الله بها عليكم فاقبلوا صدقته ...
"It is a charity Allah has given you, so accept His charity."
Hanafis take the command to accept it as making qasr binding.
Sahih Muslim 689
Sahih... لو كنت مسبحا لأتممت ...
"If I were to pray voluntary prayers, I would have completed the fard."
Ibn Umar's practice of leaving the sunnah on journeys.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on the traveller's prayer. The journey is three days' travel; qasr is wajib; intention to stay fifteen days ends it.
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar with Radd al-Muhtar, Chapter on the traveller's prayer. Travel begins on leaving the town's buildings; a traveller behind a resident prays in full.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Chapter on the traveller's prayer. The Hanbali distance of sixteen farsakh and the four-day stay.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.