SafarSalah

Qasr in Shia Ja'fari fiqh: 8 farsakh, the 10-day intention and the conditions of travel

Ja'fari rulings on the traveller's prayer with notes on Sistani and Khamenei: distance, talfiqi journeys, hadd al-tarakhkhus, 10 and 30 days, places of choice.

Shia Ja'fariUpdated 3 min read

In Ja'fari fiqh, shortening the prayer is obligatory for a traveller who meets the conditions, and fasting in Ramadan is not permitted. Knowingly praying four rak'ahs where two are required invalidates the prayer. Because followers of each marja' should follow their marja's rulings, check the details below against your marja's published Islamic Laws.

The distance: 8 farsakh

A qualifying journey is 8 shar'i farsakh, about 43 to 45 km depending on the conversion. Ayatollah Sistani's figure is about 43 km and Ayatollah Khamenei's about 45 km. The distance can be covered in one of two ways:

  • One way (imtidadi): the destination is 8 farsakh or more away.
  • Combined (talfiqi): the destination is at least 4 farsakh away and you return, so the total is 8 farsakh or more.

The distance is measured from the end of your town.

The eight conditions

A traveller shortens only if all of the following hold. They are summarised here; see your marja's rulings for the details and exceptions.

  1. The journey is at least 8 farsakh, one way or combined.
  2. You intended that distance from the start. A journey made in stages without that intention does not count until the remaining distance itself qualifies.
  3. You keep that intention throughout the journey.
  4. You do not intend to pass through your watan, or stay 10 days somewhere, before completing 8 farsakh.
  5. The journey is not for a sinful purpose, such as helping an oppressor.
  6. You are not a nomad who moves with no fixed home.
  7. Travel is not your occupation (kathir al-safar), such as a driver or pilot, subject to exceptions.
  8. You have passed the hadd al-tarakhkhus.

Hadd al-tarakhkhus

Even after setting off, you pray in full until you are far enough that you can no longer hear your town's adhan, and according to many maraji' can no longer see its walls, in normal conditions. The same limit applies on the way home: once you are back within it, you pray in full.

Staying at your destination

  • 10 days: if you intend to stay 10 days or more in one place, you pray in full there.
  • 30 days of uncertainty: if you stay somewhere without deciding, you shorten for 30 days. From then on you pray in full, even if you leave soon after.
  • Watan: in your hometown or chosen permanent home you pray in full.

Those whose work is travel

Someone whose occupation involves frequent travel, such as a lorry driver, pilot, or person commuting to work beyond the distance, prays in full and fasts on those journeys. Maraji' have detailed rules on how often travel must happen, what counts as work, and when it resets, for example after staying 10 days at home. This is a case to check carefully.

The four places of choice

In Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, Masjid al-Nabawi in Madinah, the Mosque of Kufa and the shrine of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) in Karbala, a traveller may choose to pray in full or shortened. Praying in full is preferred. Maraji' differ on whether the choice covers the whole of Makkah and Madinah or only the mosques.

Combining and nafilah

In Ja'fari fiqh, Dhuhr and Asr, and Maghrib and Isha, may be combined at any time, travelling or not. When travelling, the daytime nafilah of Dhuhr and Asr are dropped. The nafilah of Maghrib and Fajr and the night prayer remain.

Different maraji', different details. The calculator includes settings for Ayatollah Sistani and Ayatollah Khamenei. If your marja's distance differs, enter it as "Your scholar's threshold".

Check your trip in the calculator. It tests both one-way and combined journeys.

Please note. This guide summarises widely taught positions for general understanding. It is not a fatwa. Wording and figures vary between scholars and institutions, and references should be checked against the original works. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar of your school.

Keep reading