Prayer of a Traveller (Part-6)

According to the fatwas of the Grand Religious Authorities: Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, Ayatollah Sistani, and Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi (may Allah prolong their blessings):

Fatāwā presented without citing a differing opinion or a specific reference are the common rulings shared by all of the three respected Marāji‘. In cases where the ruling of one Marjaʿ differs from that of the other two, it is indicated in a footnote under the same number, mentioning the Marjaʿ by name.

Multiplicity of Homeland (Having More Than One Watan)

1. Having Multiple Homelands (Watan)

• Having two or three actual homelands is not problematic. This means that a person has a home and a life in each of those places and resides in each of them for several months during the year.
• However, having more than three actual homelands is problematic (questionable).
• If someone intends to live in a place permanently or for many years, for several months each year (e.g., three or four months):
  • If they provide living facilities there (such as a house), that place is customarily considered a second homeland.
  • But if they go there only for leisure (e.g., a summer retreat) without establishing living conditions, it is unlikely to be considered a homeland.
• To establish multiple homelands, it is not necessary for the duration of stay in each to be equal. For example:
  • Two homelands: one for 5 months and the other for 7 months
  • Three homelands: one for 4 months, another for 3 months, and the third for a few other months

In all these cases, the rulings of “watan” apply.

Ayatollah Sistani: If a person adopts more than two places as their residence, all of them are considered their homeland.
The criterion for establishing a “watan” is common (customary) recognition of residence and living, not equal division of time. For a “temporary watan,” there must be a significant and continuous stay according to common understanding, not merely brief or scattered presence.

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi: A person may have two or even three homelands, provided that they live in each place for a period that is common considered residence (for example, around four months per year).

Dependent’s Homeland (Watan al-Taba‘i)

2. Dependence in Homeland (Dependent’s Watan)

• “Dependence in watan” is a matter of common understanding (ʿurf). That is, anyone who is considered dependent on another person will have their homeland follow that person’s homeland.
• The most common example:
  • A child who lives with their parents (or one of them)—the parents’ homeland is also considered the child’s homeland.
• This type of dependence is not limited to children; it includes anyone who is considered dependent, such as:
  • A spouse (if living continuously with the husband)
  • A servant or any person who consistently lives with and follows another individual
• For this type of homeland to be established:
  • An independent intention is not required
  • Simply living together with the principal person is sufficient, even if one is not consciously aware of it
  • However, this is on the condition that the person does not intend to leave that homeland or avoid residing there.

Difference between Dependence in Original Watan and Adopted Watan + Rulings for Children

1. Difference Between Dependence in Original Homeland vs. Dependent (Adopted) Homeland

• Dependence in watan applies to an adopted watan (watan ittikhādhī), not the original watan (watan aṣlī). Therefore, if a person grew up in a place from the beginning of their life and spent their childhood and teenage years there, that place is their original watan, regardless of whether it was their parents’ watan or not.

• If a child, in the parents’ watan (whether original or acquired):
  • Has not lived there long enough for it to become their own original watan (for example, they left shortly after birth, grew up elsewhere, and then returned to their parents after ten years),
  • Then the parents’ watan is not considered the child’s original watan.
  • However, after returning and living with them, it becomes the child’s dependent (acquired) watan.

Rulings Regarding the Child

• Even if the child has reached puberty (e.g., a 12-year-old girl or a 16-year-old boy) and is unaware of the intention of watan:
  • If they go and live with their parents in a place, that place is considered their watan as well.
• However:
  • If the child intends not to reside there, then that place will not be considered their watan, even if they are financially dependent on their parents.
• If a child adopts a place as watan by following their parents, and later changes their mind:
  • As long as they have not left that place, it still retains the ruling of watan

And their prayers must be offered in full (not shortened)