Short answer
Try to pray fard standing and facing the qibla, in a galley or open space on a plane or a quiet spot on a train. If you truly cannot, pray in your seat as best you can so the time does not pass. Many Hanafi scholars then advise repeating it on land. Fard cannot be prayed in a moving car; stop to pray.
Fard and wajib prayers need standing, facing the qibla, ruku and sujud when possible, and this applies on a plane, ship or train. If these cannot be done, pray as you can to honour the time, and many Hanafi scholars say the prayer should be repeated once you are able, because the obstacle came from people rather than illness. Nafl may be prayed seated facing any direction outside the town.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- If the qibla or the pillars cannot be done, pray to honour the time and repeat the prayer later.
- Hanbali
- Pray as best you can in the vehicle; there is no need to repeat it.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ prayed voluntary prayers on his camel facing whichever way it went, but when he wanted to pray a fard prayer he got down and faced the qibla. So the rules for fard are stricter than for nafl.
- Plan first: pray before you board or after you land if the time allows. Check the prayer times of the place where you will be.
- On a plane: ask the crew for space in the galley or near the exit, stand, face the qibla (the screen map or a compass app helps) and pray normally. If you cannot stand, pray in your seat, facing the qibla if possible and bowing for ruku and lower for sujud. Hanafi scholars commonly advise repeating such a prayer later.
- On a train: find a vestibule or quiet space, stand and face the qibla. If the train turns, turn with it if you can.
- In a car or bus: stop at a rest area or anywhere safe and pray on the ground. A moving car is not a place for fard.
- Nafl: may be prayed seated, facing the direction of travel, outside the town.
The Hanafi school does not allow combining prayers on a journey except at Arafah and Muzdalifah, so plan around each time. If you are a traveller, the four rakat prayers become two; see how far you must travel to shorten prayer and our guide to qasr prayer.
Make wudu before boarding or use a small water bottle in the lavatory. If no water can be found or used, tayammum (dry ablution) may apply; ask a scholar about your exact case.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:239
فَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ فَرِجَالًا أَوْ رُكْبَانًۭا ۖ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَمَا عَلَّمَكُم مَّا لَمْ تَكُونُوا۟ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٣٩﴾
And if you fear [an enemy, then pray] on foot or riding. But when you are secure, then remember Allah [in prayer], as He has taught you that which you did not [previously] know.
Prayer is still offered when circumstances are hard.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:144
قَدْ نَرَىٰ تَقَلُّبَ وَجْهِكَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۖ فَلَنُوَلِّيَنَّكَ قِبْلَةًۭ تَرْضَىٰهَا ۚ فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَحَيْثُ مَا كُنتُمْ فَوَلُّوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُۥ ۗ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا يَعْمَلُونَ ﴿١٤٤﴾
We have certainly seen the turning of your face, [O Muhammad], toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Haram. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do.
Facing the qibla is required wherever you are.
Sahih al-Bukhari 400
Sahih... كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي على راحلته حيث توجهت فإذا أراد الفريضة نزل فاستقبل القبلة ...
"The Messenger of Allah used to pray on his mount wherever it faced, but when he wanted to pray the obligatory prayer he dismounted and faced the qibla."
Nafl may be prayed while riding; fard needs standing and the qibla.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on prayer on a ship and nawafil on a mount. Prayer on a ship is valid, standing when able; nafl is prayed on a mount outside the town in any direction.
- Fiqhi Maqalat (Mufti Taqi Usmani), Discussion of prayer on an aeroplane. Prayer on a plane follows the rules of the ship: standing and facing the qibla where possible.
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.