"To Allah Belongs the East and West" — Voluntary Prayer on a Mount During Travel
asbab
Level: basic
madani-events
as-090
فَأَيۡنَمَا تُوَلُّواْ فَثَمَّ وَجۡهُ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
— البقرة 115
Verse: "To Allah belongs the East and West — wherever you turn there is the face of Allah." (2:115)
Occasion (Sahih): Muslim narrated from Ibn Umar: "The Messenger of Allah used to pray voluntary prayers on his mount during travel wherever it faced, and performed Witr on it — but would not perform obligatory prayers on it." This verse was then revealed permitting this.
Fiqh benefit: Voluntary prayers on a mount during travel are permitted in any direction. Obligatory prayers require facing the qibla when possible.
Source: Sahih Muslim (700); Lubab Al-Nuqul by Al-Suyuti; Al-Qurtubi (2/73)
Question: What is the difference between obligatory and voluntary prayers regarding facing the qibla on a mount?
Answer: Voluntary: the qibla is not required on a mount during travel — permissible in any direction. Obligatory: the qibla is required when possible.