Prayer of a Traveller (Part-9)

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.

Revoking the Intention of Residence and Its Effect on Prayer

1. If a traveller withdraws from, or becomes uncertain about, the intention to stay for ten days before performing the first four-unit (rak‘ah) of obligatory prayer, their ruling remains that of a traveller, and they must perform their prayers in shortened form (qaṣr). However, if they have already completed one four-unit obligatory prayer in full, then from that point onward—as long as they remain in that place—their prayers must be performed in full, even if they later revoke their intention.
2. Performing two-unit prayers (such as the Morning Prayer) or three-unit prayers (such as the Maghreb prayer) has no effect on this ruling. Therefore, if they revoke their intention after such prayers, they must still perform their prayers in shortened form (qaṣr).

Changing Intention During a Four-Unit Prayer (First Prayer after Intending Residence)

If a person withdraws from the intention of ten-day residence while performing their first four-unit (rak‘ah) prayer, the rulings are as follows:

• Before entering the third rak‘ah: The prayer must be completed as shortened (qaṣr).
• During the third rak‘ah (before bowing / rukūʿ): As a matter of obligatory precaution (iḥtiyāṭ wājib), complete the prayer as qaṣr, then repeat it again as qaṣr.
• After entering the bowing (rukūʿ) of the third rak‘ah:

➤ The prayer becomes invalid (bāṭil), and must be restarted and performed as qaṣr.

Ayatollah Sistani: If one has entered the third rak‘ah but not yet gone into rukūʿ: They must sit down and complete the prayer as qaṣr.  If they have already gone into rukūʿ of the third rak‘ah: They may either break the prayer, or complete it

➤ but in either case, they must repeat it as qaṣr afterward.

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi: If one has entered the rukūʿ of the third rak‘ah: The prayer is invalid, and as long as they remain in that place, they must perform prayers as qaṣr.

The Effect of Revoking the Intention of Residence on Fasting

If a person begins fasting with the intention of staying (ten days), but withdraws from that intention before performing a four-unit prayer, the rulings are:

• If the withdrawal occurs after noon (zawāl): The fast is valid.
• If the withdrawal occurs before noon (zawāl): The fast is invalid.

Ayatollah Sistani: If the withdrawal occurs after noon (zawāl) but the person has not performed a four-unit prayer: As a matter of precaution, they must complete the fast for that day and also make it up (qaḍāʾ) later. They must perform their prayers in shortened form (qaṣr).

➤ They also cannot fast on the following days (since they are considered a traveller).

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi: If the withdrawal occurs after noon (zawāl) but the person has not performed a four-unit prayer: The fast is not valid, and they must perform their prayers in shortened form (qaṣr).

Leaving the Place of Residence and Continuity of Its Ruling

Leaving the place of residence for a distance of less than four farsakhs (even for one or several days) does not invalidate the original intention of residence. If a person plans to travel such a distance and then return to the same place of residence:

• During the outward journey, at the destination, and on the return, their prayers must be performed in full (tamām).

Ruling on Prolonged Stay Without Intention of Residence

If a traveller, after covering the legal travel distance, remains in one place for 30 days in a state of uncertainty (without intending a ten-day stay), then from the 31st day onward, as long as they remain there, they must perform their prayers in full (tamām).

Likewise, if a person repeatedly extends short stays (each less than ten days) in succession until it reaches one month, their ruling is the same: after the 30th day, their prayers must be performed in full (tamām).