Salat al-Musafir (Traveler's Prayer)

Salat al-Musafir (Arabic: صلاة المسافر) refers to the shortened prayers that a traveler (musafir) performs while traveling. In Shia fiqh, the prayers of Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha are shortened from four rak'ah to two rak'ah, while Fajr (2 rak'ah) and Maghrib (3 rak'ah) remain unchanged.

According to Shia jurisprudence, it is obligatory (wajib) to shorten the prayers while traveling — it is not merely a permission, but a requirement. Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "The Prophet's shortening of the prayer during travel is not a permission (rukhsah) but an obligation (azimah) — the traveler who prays four rak'ah must repeat his prayer" (Al-Kafi by Shaykh al-Kulayni, vol. 3). This differs from Sunni fiqh, where shortening is typically considered a permission.

The most important conditions for being a musafir in Shia fiqh are: (1) The travel distance must be at least 8 farsakh (approximately 44 km) in one direction, (2) One must intend to travel this distance from the beginning, (3) One must not intend to stay 10 days or more at the destination, and (4) Travel must not be one's profession. If one stays at a place for 10 days or more, one prays the full prayer (tamam).

There are also special rules in Shia fiqh about specific places where one always prays the full prayer: one's hometown (watan), a place one intends to settle, and a place where one has stayed for 10 days. For Muslims who travel domestically or internationally, knowledge of the traveler's prayer rules is important for correct performance of the prayer.