SafarSalah

About SafarSalah

An authoritative, carefully referenced educational utility for Islamic travel jurisprudence (Qasr al-Salah).

Executive Summary: SafarSalah was created to address one of the most frequent and nuanced questions faced by Muslim travellers worldwide: "Have I travelled far enough to shorten my prayer (qasr), and what are the exact conditions regarding city boundaries, duration of stay, and combining prayers?" Rather than offering an oversimplified single number, our platform couples geographic OpenStreetMap boundary data with authentic classical jurisprudence across all major Islamic schools.

1. Mission & Public Educational Utility

For centuries, Islamic scholars have meticulously detailed the rulings of travel (Ahkam al-Safar). However, modern transport, suburban expansion, and differing conversion rates of classical measurements (such as the farsakh, barid, and marhalah) often leave travellers uncertain.

SafarSalah provides a free, non-commercial educational aid. We calculate road and straight-line distances specifically measured from the outward civil or municipal boundary of a traveller's hometown, allowing believers to navigate journeys with clarity, precision, and adherence to their followed school of thought.

2. Sourcing Standards & Classical References

Every calculation threshold, rule on residency (iqamah), combining (jam'), and voluntary prayers (sunan) on this site is grounded directly in recognized primary reference manuals of Islamic jurisprudence:

  • Hanafi School: Primary references include Al-Hidayah by Burhan al-Din al-Marghinani, Bada'i al-Sana'i by Imam al-Kasani, Hashiyat Radd al-Muhtar ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar by Allamah Ibn Abidin al-Shami, and modern compendia such as Fatawa al-Hindiyyah and Ahsan al-Fatawa by Mufti Rashid Ahmad Ludhyanwi (77.24 km / 48 miles) as well as Fatawa Ridawiyyah by Imam Ahmad Rida Khan (92 km / 57.18 miles).
  • Shafi'i School: Based upon Al-Majmu' Sharh al-Muhadhdhab by Imam Yahya ibn Sharaf al-Nawawi, Minhaj al-Talibin, and Tuhfat al-Muhtaj by Ibn Hajar al-Haytami. The distance threshold is established as 4 burud (16 farsakh ≈ 81 km / 50.3 miles), and residency is established upon intending 4 complete days excluding the days of arrival and departure.
  • Maliki School: Sourced from Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik ibn Anas, Al-Risalah of Ibn Abi Zayd al-Qayrawani, Mukhtasar Khalil, and Hashiyat al-Dasuqi. Qasr is classified as a confirmed Sunnah (Sunnah Mu'akkadah) over 4 burud (approx. 80–89 km), with residency established upon intending 20 obligatory prayers (4 full days).
  • Hanbali School: Drawn from Al-Mughni and Al-Umdah by Imam Muwaffaq al-Din Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi, Zad al-Mustaqni' by al-Hajjawi, and Kashshaf al-Qina' by al-Buhuti. Travel distance is set at 4 burud (approx. 80 km / 48 miles), with residency triggered if a traveller intends a stay exceeding 21 obligatory prayers (more than 4 days).
  • Salafi / Independent Hadith Jurisprudence: Sourced from the research of Shaykh Abd al-Aziz ibn Baz in Majmu' Fatawa wa Maqalat Mutanawwi'ah, Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen in Al-Sharh al-Mumti', and the verdicts of the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta (Al-Lajnah al-Da'imah).
  • Shia Ja'fari School: Based on the authorized rulings (Risalah Amaliyyah) of the leading Contemporary Maraji', specifically Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani (Minhaj al-Salihin and Islamic Laws) and Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei (Ajwibat al-Istifta'at). Governed by the 8 farsakh threshold (approx. 44 km one-way or 22 km return with round-trip requirement) and the 10-day residency (Niyyah al-Iqamah) rule.

3. The Editorial & Research Committee

SafarSalah is maintained by a dedicated working group of software engineers and researchers with formal background in Islamic studies and comparative jurisprudence (Fiqh al-Muqaran). Content is regularly audited against published contemporary legal decisions from:

  • The International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA / Majma' al-Fiqh al-Islami)
  • Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah (Cairo)
  • The European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR)
  • Darul Uloom Deoband & Darul Uloom Karachi Fatawa Archives
  • The Office of Supreme Religious Authority (Najaf and Qom)

4. Computational & Boundary Methodology

A key innovation of SafarSalah is the separation between "home town space" and "shar'i travel space". In classical fiqh, shortening does not begin at one's doorstep; it begins only after traversing past the contiguous residential boundary or walls of one's municipality (Imarat al-Balad). We utilize OpenStreetMap boundary geometry via Nominatim, coupled with OSRM (Open Source Routing Machine) road network analysis, to accurately calculate distance from the exact exit coordinate.

5. Important Legal & Shar'i Disclaimer

This site does not issue custom religious fatwas. It is an automated legal calculator applying established, published positions to the inputs you submit. For complex personal circumstances—such as dual domiciles, maritime contracts, frequent airline employment, or indefinite visas—consult a certified local Mufti or scholar belonging to your tradition.

6. Open Data & Attribution

Mapping data is © OpenStreetMap contributors under the Open Database License. Geocoding is powered by Photon / Komoot and Nominatim. Routing topology is provided via OSRM.