Prayer of Fear and Travel — The Divine Concession
fiqh
Level: basic
salah
fqh-002
فَلَيۡسَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقۡصُرُواْ مِنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ
— النساء 101
Verse: "When you travel the earth, there is no blame on you in shortening prayer if you fear the disbelievers will trouble you." (4:101)
Shortening in travel: Four-unit prayers (Dhuhr, Asr, Isha) shortened to two units. Condition: distance exceeding ~80 km (scholarly difference).
Combining prayers: Forward combining (Dhuhr+Asr at Dhuhr time) or delayed (at Asr time) — permitted in travel and certain hardship.
Prayer of fear: Special forms during battle, described in detail in 4:102.
Hadith: "Allah loves that His concessions be taken, just as He dislikes that His prohibitions be committed." (Ahmad — Sahih)
Source: Al-Qurtubi (5/357); Ibn Qudama (2/111); Ahmad (5/433) — Sahih
Question: Which prayers are shortened in travel and how many units do they become?
Answer: Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha — shortened from four to two units. Fajr and Maghrib are not shortened.