Shortening the prayer when traveling without specific destination

Question: 89

When one leaves his/her home town traveling without a specific destination until reaching
the distance limit for shortening the prayer (e.g. a shepherd looking for good grazing for
his sheep, a picnicker searching for a more suitable place for camping, or one chasing a
fugitive) is he/she allowed to shorten prayers?

Answer

Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah.

According to the majority (of Muslim scholars) one would not be allowed to shorten prayers, since the traveler in such a case has set off without the intention beforehand (and the intention is of significance in Islam). Therefore he/she has not met the condition of being a traveler.

Source:

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

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