1. When a person is deemed to be a Musaafir (traveller according to Islamic Shariah) it is Waajib (obligatory) to shorten the Prayer.

[4:101]When you travel on the earth, there is no sin on you in shortening your Salah, if you fear that the disbelievers would put you in trouble. Surely, the disbelievers are an open enemy for you.

2. A casual reading of the verse indicates that shortening of prayer must be done due to fear, however Rasul-ullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and Sahaba (RA) shortened prayers with or without fear during travel.

Yahya b. Umayya (RA) said: I told 'Umar b. al-Khattab (RA) that Allah had said:" When you travel on the earth, there is no sin on you in shortening your Salah, if you fear that the disbelievers would put you in trouble "[4:101], whereas the people are now safe. He (RA) replied: I wondered about it in the same way as you wonder about it, so I asked the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) about it and he said: It is an act of charity which Allah has done to you, so accept His charity. [Muslim]

3. During Travel Salatul Zohar, Asar and Esha are shortened from 4 Rakaat to 2 Rakaat but the rest remain the same.

Narrated Asiha (RA): Two Rakaat were obligated in Makkah, however when Allah's Apostle (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) migrated to Madinah two (additional) Rakaat were added to it except for Maghrib as it is Wit’r of the day and Morning prayer because it has a long recitation (in it), but whenever Allah's Apostle (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) travelled he prayed the earlier prayers (i.e. Two Rakaat as the obligation was during Makkah). [Ahmed]

Narrated Ibn 'Umar (RA): I accompanied Allah's Apostle (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and he never offered more than two Rakat during the journey. Abu Bakr (RA), 'Umar (RA)and 'Uthman (RA) used to do the same. [Bukhari]

4. There is a consensus of opinion that there is no shortening of Salah for Faj’r and Maghrib.

5. The majority of scholars in Hanafi, Shaf’ae, Maliki and Hanbali Madhab agree that the minimum required distance for a person to be considered a Musaafir (traveller according to Islamic Shariah) is 4 Burud which is equivalent to 16 Farsakh or 48 (Shariah Miles) or 88 Kilometres or 55 miles.

Ibn Umar (RA) and Ibn Abbas (RA) used to shorten their prayers and not fast at a distance of 4 Burud, which is 16 Farsakh [Bukhari]

Note: There is some disagreement in the matter which arises from the Ulama calculating the distance which can be travelled in 3 days (or 1 day) rather then the distance (itself) which is stipulated in the Hadeeth.

6. Intention must be made to travel the minimum distance as stipulated above, without intention the person shall not be deemed a Musaafir (traveller according to Islamic Shariah).

Rasul-ullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “Every action is based on Intention, and everyone shall havewhat he intended” [Bukhari]

7. Shortening of prayer cannot begin until the person has left the city-limits as this was the practise of Rasul-ullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).

Narrated Anas bin Malik (RA): I offered four Rakat of Zuhr prayer with the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) at Madinah and two Rakat at Dhul-Hulaifa. (i.e. shortened the 'Asr prayer). [Bukhari]

Note: Dhul-Hulaifa is outside of Madinah.

8. In addition to shortening of prayers Musaafir (traveller according to Islamic Shariah) is also entitled to delay his/her obligatory fasts (to be made up later) and perform Masa’h on the socks for up to 3 days (a resident can only perform Masah for upto 1 day) .

[2:183]O you who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as they were enjoined upon those before you, so that you may be God-fearing,[2:184]for days few in number. However, should any one of you be sick or on a journey, then (he should fast) a number of other days (equal to the missed ones); and those who have the strength, (still, they do not opt for fasting,) on them there is a fidyah (compensation), that is, the feeding of a poor person. Then whoever does good voluntarily, that is better for him. However, that you fast is better for you, if you only knew.

Sayyidina Safwan Ibn Assal (RA) narrates that Rasul-ullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) ordered us to perform Masah on our socks for 3 days and 3 nights during travel and for one day and one night when at home when we had put our socks after Taharah and not to take them off for any reason except for Janabah (sexual cohabitation). [Ahmed]

9. When a person intends to stay at a place for longer then 15 days he/she will cease to be a Musaafir (traveller according to Islamic Shariah) and prayers must be offered in full.

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA): The Apostle of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) stayed fifteen days in Mecca in the year of Conquest, shortening the prayer. [Abi Dawud]

Note: There is some disagreement in the matter and other periods (19 days, 17 days, 10 days etc.) are also mentioned , therefore the Hanafi Ulama have adopted the middle period as mentioned in the Hadeeth above.

10 . There was consensus amongst the Sahaba (RA) that if a person got stranded at a location (without intending it to be so) then he can continue to be a Musaafir (traveller according to Islamic Shariah) and this is the opinion of Hanafi, Maliki and Hanbali Ulama.

Sunnah method & description of Salah of Eclipse (Solar & Lunar)

1. The Sun and Moon Eclipse as a Sign from Allah (SWT).

Narrated Abu Bakra (RA): We were with Allah's Apostle (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) when the sun eclipsed. Allah's Apostle (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) stood up dragging his cloak till he entered the Mosque. He led us in a two-Rakat prayer till the sun (eclipse) had cleared. Then the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, "The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of someone's death. So whenever you see these eclipses pray and invoke (Allah) till the eclipse is over." [Bukhari]

2. Solar or Lunar eclipse has nothing to do with someone’s birth or death.

Narrated Al-Mughira bin Shu'ba: "The sun eclipsed in the life-time of Allah's Apostle (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) on the day when (his son) Ibrahim died. So the people said that the sun had eclipsed because of the death of Ibrahim. Allah's Apostle (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, "The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of the death or life (i.e. birth) of some-one. When you see the eclipse pray and invoke Allah." [Bukhari]

3. In the event of Solar or Lunar eclipse the believers should be mindful of Akhira & turn towards Allah (SWT) and pray.

Narrated Abu Bakra (RA) In the life-time of the Allah's Apostle (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) the sun eclipsed and he went out dragging his clothes till he reached the Mosque. The people gathered around him and he led them and offered two Rakat. When the sun (eclipse) cleared, he said, "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse because of the death of someone, and so when an eclipse occurs, pray and invoke Allah till the eclipse is over." It happened that a son of the Prophet called Ibrahim died on that day and the people were talking about that (saying that the eclipse was caused by his death). [Bukhari]

4. The prayer for Solar Eclipse is with congregation .

Narrated Abu Bakra (RA) In the life-time of the Allah's Apostle (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) the sun eclipsed and he went out dragging his clothes till he reached the Mosque. The people gathered around him and he led them and offered two Rakat. When the sun (eclipse) cleared, he said, "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse because of the death of someone, and so when an eclipse occurs, pray and invoke Allah till the eclipse is over." It happened that a son of the Prophet called Ibrahim died on that day and the people were talking about that (saying that the eclipse was caused by his death). [Bukhari]

5. Ulama have stated that only eclipse occurred in the lifetime of Rasul-ullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and it was Solar.

6. This congregational Solar eclipse is Two Rakaah similar to any other Two Rakaah Salah in the Madhab of Imam Abu Haneefa (RA).

Nauman Ibn Bashir (RA) said that the Prophet (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) prayed the Salatul-Khusoof with us like one of your Salahs. He went into Ruku and performed the Sajdah, praying two Rakaats two Rakaats with two Rukuhs and supplicated to Allah (SWT) until the sun clearly reappeared. [Abi Dawud]

Note: As previously stated that there was only one Solar Eclipse (i.e. one congregational Salah) during the lifetime of Prophet (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam), however many narrations are found and in some Two Ruku are mentioned (per Rakaah), however according to Scholars in the Hanafi Madhab the most Authentic way is to have one Ruku per Rakaah. Imam Shaf’ae (RA) and others have differed on the matter.

6. Imam can do the recitation loudly or silently.

Note: The opinion of Imam Abu Haneefa is to recite silently but Imam Abu Yusuf (RA) says that the recitation should be done loudly and Imam Muhammad (RA) has recorded both opinions. [Tuhfatul-Fuqaha]

7. Salah should be lengthened until the eclipse is finished.

Note: There is no disagreement on the matter, however if Imam finishes the Salah early then Muslims should still remain engaged in the remembrance of Allah (SWT).

8. Salah for Lunar Eclipse should be prayed individually and not with congregation.

Note: This is the Madhab of Imam Abu Haneefa (RA) and there are many reasons for this position:

1) There is no evidence from Prophet (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) of congregational Lunar Eclipse Salah.

2) The Hadeeth of Saheeh Bukhari (step 1) mentions praying but doesn’t stipulate prayer with congregation.

3) Imposing congregational Salah of Lunar Eclipse on people will be undue hardship as it occurs in the Night.

Imam Shaf’ae (RA) has however differed on the matter and his given the evidence from the Sahaba (RA) as follows:

Imam Hasan Al-Basari (RA) narrates that when Abdullah Ibn Abbas (RA) was the Ameer of Basrah the moon was eclipsed. Therefore he came into the Masjid and lead people in two Rakaat Salah and in each Salah he performed two Rukuhs and said, “I have performed it the same way as I saw Prophet (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) perform his prayer” [Musnad Imam Shaf’ae (RA)]

9. Khutbah is neither obligatory nor part of Salah.

Note: Hanafi, Maliki and Hanbali Ulama agree that Khutbah given on this occasion by Allah's Apostle (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was to eradicate the thought in people's mind that the sun had eclipsed due to the death (of Rasul-ullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) 's son) and to establish that Eclipse is a sign of Allah (SWT) and does not occur due to someone's birth or death, therefore Khutbah is neither an obligation nor part of Salah (like Jummuah Salah, Eid Salah) etc. Imam Shaf'ae (RA) however differs on the matter. [Fiqh Alal- Madhahib Arb'a]