AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES AND ISLAMIC STUDIES RESEARCH (AJHISR) Vol.2, Issue 1, Jan-16 to Jul-16 53 SHORTENING AND COMBINING OF SALAH DURING TRAVEL Muhammad Nabeel Musharraf Australian Islamic Library ABSTRACT: This papeƌ is a tƌaŶslatioŶ aŶd ĐoŵŵeŶtaƌLJ of aŶ edžĐeƌpt takeŶ fƌoŵ A “uŵŵaƌLJ of IslaŵiĐ JuƌispƌudeŶĐe ďLJ “heikh “alih Al-Fawzan, Vol 1, pg 238 – 241. Selected excerpt summarises key fiqh considerations related to Salah during travel, iŶĐludiŶg: ǁhat ŵakes a peƌsoŶ tƌaǀelleƌ fƌoŵ “haƌiah poiŶt of ǀieǁ, hoǁ to do taqseer ;shoƌteŶiŶg of pƌaLJeƌsͿ, ĐoŵďiŶiŶg pƌaLJeƌs, ĐoŵďiŶed pƌaLJeƌ iŶ Aƌafah aŶd other related matters. Explanation of important points in commentary has been based on works from renowned scholars. The scope of this paper does not cover all the matters of fiqh related Salah during travel (e.g. praying in aircraft, train, car etc.) as the key focus for this paper is shortening and combing of Salah in line with Quranic text and prophetic traditions. INTRODUCTION OŶe of the fiǀe ŵaiŶ pƌiŶĐiples upoŶ ǁhiĐh IslaŵiĐ laǁ is ďased ;i.e., the Legal Madžiŵs, oƌ al - Qaǁāʿid al-FiƋhiLJLJaͿ is: DiffiĐultLJ ďegets ease ;al-mashaqqa tajlib al-taLJsīƌͿ. This pƌiŶĐiple is manifested throughout all of the rules of fiqh, and in particular that of travel (safar). A traveller may shoƌteŶ the pƌaLJeƌs ;ƋasƌͿ, ĐoŵďiŶe theŵ ;jaŵʿͿ, aŶd ďe legallLJ peƌŵitted to ďƌeak the fast of Ramadan (fiṭƌͿ.(Yasir Qadhi, 2011) It is very unfortunate that many Muslims today are unaware of the concessions and bounties provided to us by Allah SWT. The following hadith from Musnad Ahmed highlights the importance of knowing these concessions and using them: Ibn Umar R.A. reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace aŶd ďlessiŶgs ďe upoŶ hiŵ, said, VeƌilLJ, Allah loǀes foƌ LJou to take his ĐoŶĐessioŶs, just as he dislikes LJou to ďe disoďedieŶt. ;MusŶad Ahŵad ϱϴϯϮ, Gƌade: “ahih aĐĐoƌdiŶg to “heikh Al-Albani). In this paper, we have provided a brief commentary on an excerpt related to Salah for Tƌaǀelleƌs, written by Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan, to clarify the concessions provided by Allah SWT in this regard and relevant matters of fiqh. Important Point: It is adequately explained by scholars that there can be more than one correct opinion in the matters of Fiqh (unlike Aqeedah where there is no room for difference of opinion on core beliefs). Authentic scholars and Imams do not present their opinions without having their base in Adillah tafseeliya from the Shariah sources (Musharraf, 2015). Accordingly, in the matter of fiqh related to Salah for travellers also, there is a difference of opinion on some matters which are based on the way mujtahidoon have interpreted relevant evidences from Quran and Sunnah. We should, therefore, respect the various views held by scholars and understand, as explained above, that there may be more than one accepted or correct ways of performing an act of worship in line with Shariah texts. TEXT AND COMMENTARY: Permissibility to shorten the prayer: