What Are the Rulings Regarding Travel in Relation to Distance, Praying on a Boat and the Friday Prayer?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam’aleykum,

1. I’m a student at university and I travel to my parents’ house on weekends. It takes at least 2 hours to travel between the two places. Am I considered a traveler?

2. Oftentimes, I take the ferry when I travel. Sometimes when it gets crowded or when the weather isn’t so good, I feel a bit uncomfortable praying standing. Is it okay to pray while sitting?

3. Should I attend the Friday prayer as a traveler? Would I still be allowed to give the sermon of the Friday prayer as a traveler?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that this message finds you well, insha’Allah.

(1) If you consider your parents’ house to be your permanent and long-term residence, you would shorten whilst at university if the distance between your home city and the university is greater than [approximately] 48 miles and you are remaining a resident there for less than fifteen days.

(2) You should pray standing unless doing so would cause you to lose balance and fall. Further, you would need to face the qibla during this prayer and adjust accordingly if the ferry changes direction.

(3) Yes, attend the Friday prayer. You can give the sermon if you are able to do so soundly.

Please see the following resources for further details: When Is a Person Considered a Traveler Who Can Shorten Their Prayers? and: The Definition of a Resident Person & Traveler and: Can I Pray in a Car? How To Pray in a Train? and: A Practical Guide to Giving Friday Sermons, By Ustadh Amjad Tarsin

And Allah alone knows best.

wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani