Understanding Prayer When Travelling: How Many Rakats Should You Perform?

prayer when travelling, rakats for prayer when travelling,

Are you searching for a description regarding prayer when traveling and the rakats for prayer during travel? If your answer is "Of course," congratulations! You are currently reading the best short post on this topic. Why? Because that is what I will discuss here. As Muslims, it is essential for us to understand this. That is why I wrote this post, so please read it thoroughly!

In this short post, I will discuss some essential aspects of prayer when traveling and the rakats involved. Here are some of the key points I will cover:

What Is Prayer When Traveling?

The first essential point about prayer when traveling and the rakats for prayer during travel that I will discuss is "What is prayer when traveling?" I want you to understand this concept first before moving on to further explanations because it is the fundamental aspect of this discussion that must be well understood.

In simple terms, prayer when traveling refers to the obligatory prayers in Islam that Muslims perform while on a journey. The obligatory prayers include Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha.

Read Also: Qabliyah and Badiyah Prayers

There is a specific discussion regarding how to perform prayer when traveling within Islamic jurisprudence, which I will elaborate on in the paragraphs below.

That is an essential explanation of "What is prayer when traveling?" As Muslims, we must understand this.

Why Is Prayer When Traveling Important?

The second essential point regarding prayer when traveling and the rakats for prayer during travel that I will discuss is "Why is prayer when traveling important?" I want you to grasp this concept so you understand the significance of this discussion.

In simple terms, prayer when traveling is extremely important because it is one of the pillars of Islam that Muslims must uphold, regardless of their circumstances. Travel is not a valid excuse to neglect the obligation of prayer. Therefore, Muslims must pray even while traveling.

That is an essential explanation of "Why is prayer when traveling important?" As Muslims, we must understand this.

How to Do Prayer When Traveling?

The third essential point regarding prayer when traveling and the rakats for prayer during travel that I will discuss is "How to do prayer when traveling?" I want you to understand this concept so you know how to perform prayers while on the journey.

The description of how to perform prayer when traveling is as follows:

How to Do Fajr Prayer When Traveling?

Fajr prayer is one of the obligatory prayers for Muslims. They must perform it under all circumstances. If they fail to do so, they commit a transgression.

When traveling, Muslims should perform the usual Fajr prayer: 2 rakats for Fajr, as they normally would.

How to Do Dhuhr Prayer When Traveling?

Dhuhr prayer is also one of the obligatory prayers for Muslims, and they must perform it under all circumstances. Neglecting it is a transgression.

When traveling, Muslims have the option to perform Dhuhr prayer as usual or to combine it with Asr prayer. They can do this with Jama Taqdeem or Jama Takheer, either shortening the rakats or not.

If they choose to perform the usual Dhuhr prayer, they need to pray 4 rakats.

If they prefer to combine Dhuhr with Asr prayer, they can do so using Jama Taqdeem or Jama Takheer, shortening the rakats of Dhuhr and Asr as necessary.

How to Do Asr Prayer When Traveling?

Asr prayer is another obligatory prayer for Muslims that must be performed under all circumstances. Failing to do so is a transgression.

When traveling, Muslims can perform Asr prayer as usual or combine it with Dhuhr prayer. They can choose to use Jama Taqdeem or Jama Takheer and either shorten the rakats or not.

If they wish to perform the regular Asr prayer, they must pray 4 rakats.

If they decide to combine Asr with Dhuhr prayer, they can do it using Jama Taqdeem or Jama Takheer, shortening the rakats of both prayers as necessary.

How to Do Maghrib Prayer When Traveling?

Maghrib prayer is also obligatory for Muslims, and they must perform it under all circumstances. Not doing so is a transgression.

When traveling, Muslims can perform Maghrib prayer as usual or combine it with Isha prayer. They can do this using Jama Taqdeem or Jama Takheer and either shorten the rakats or not.

If they choose to perform the usual Maghrib prayer, they must pray 3 rakats.

If they wish to combine Maghrib with Isha prayer, they can do so using Jama Taqdeem or Jama Takheer, performing 3 rakats for Maghrib and shortening the rakats for Isha prayer as needed.

How to Do Isha Prayer When Traveling?

Isha prayer is one of the obligatory prayers for Muslims that must be performed under all circumstances. Neglecting it is a transgression.

When traveling, Muslims can perform Isha prayer as usual or combine it with Maghrib prayer. They can choose to use Jama Taqdeem or Jama Takheer, either shortening the rakats or not.

If they want to perform the usual Isha prayer, they must pray 4 rakats.

If they decide to combine Isha with Maghrib prayer, they can do so using Jama Taqdeem or Jama Takheer, performing 3 rakats for Maghrib and shortening the rakats for Isha prayer as necessary.

That is the essential description of "How to do prayer when traveling?" As Muslims, we must understand this.

Combining Prayer When Traveling

The fourth essential point regarding prayer when traveling and the rakats for prayer during travel that I will discuss is combining prayers when traveling. I want you to understand this concept so you know how to combine prayers while on the journey.

In Islam, Jama Taqdeem and Jama Takheer are two methods of performing obligatory prayers under certain conditions, such as when Muslims are traveling. Jama Taqdeem and Jama Takheer are not separate types of obligatory or sunnah prayers.

Combining Prayer When Traveling with Jama Taqdeem

Jama Taqdeem (جَمْعُ التَّقْدِيْمِ) in Islam refers to one method of performing obligatory prayer.

Jama Taqdeem (جَمْعُ التَّقْدِيْمِ) means combining two obligatory prayers into one and performing it at the beginning of the time.

The obligatory prayers that can be combined using Jama Taqdeem are as follows:

  • Dhuhr prayer and Asr prayer, with the implementation time being Dhuhr.
  • Maghrib prayer and Isha prayer, with the implementation time being Maghrib.

Combining Prayer When Traveling with Jama Takheer

Jama Takheer (جَمْعُ التَّأْخِيْرِ) in Islam refers to another method of performing obligatory prayer.

Jama Takheer (جَمْعُ التَّأْخِيْرِ) means combining two obligatory prayers into one and performing it at the end of the time.

The obligatory prayers that can be combined using Jama Takheer are as follows:

  • Dhuhr prayer and Asr prayer, with the implementation time being Asr.
  • Maghrib prayer and Isha prayer, with the implementation time being Isha.

That is the essential description of combining prayers when traveling. As Muslims, we must understand this.

Shortening Prayer When Traveling

The fifth essential point regarding prayer when traveling and the rakats for prayer during travel that I will discuss is shortening prayers when traveling. I want you to understand this concept so you know how to shorten your prayers while on the journey.

Shortening prayer when traveling refers to reducing the number of rakats during travel. This is one of the allowances for Muslims, enabling them to perform their prayers effectively while traveling.

However, not all rakats can be shortened when traveling. Only the prayers with 4 rakats can be reduced. Therefore, the prayers that can be shortened are Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha.

If you wish to shorten Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha prayers, the rakats will be as follows:

  • Dhuhr prayer = 2 rakats.
  • Asr prayer = 2 rakats.
  • Isha prayer = 2 rakats.

That is the essential description of shortening prayers when traveling. As Muslims, we must understand this.

How Many Rakats for Prayer When Traveling?

The sixth essential point regarding prayer when traveling and the rakats for prayer during travel that I will discuss is "How many rakats are there for prayer while traveling?" I want you to understand this as we conclude this discussion.

Below are the rakats for prayer when traveling that you should know:

Rakats for Dhuhr Prayer When Traveling

  • 4 rakats if you perform the usual Dhuhr prayer.
  • 2 rakats if you shorten the rakats for Dhuhr prayer.

Rakats for Asr Prayer When Traveling

  • 4 rakats if you perform Asr prayer as usual.
  • 2 rakats if you shorten the rakats for Asr prayer.

Rakats for Maghrib Prayer When Traveling

Maghrib prayer consists of 3 rakats as the standard, as the rakats for Maghrib prayer cannot be shortened.

Rakats for Isha Prayer When Traveling

  • 4 rakats if you perform Isha prayer as usual.
  • 2 rakats if you shorten the rakats for Isha prayer.

Rakats for Fajr Prayer When Traveling

Fajr prayer consists of 2 rakats as the standard, as the rakats for Fajr prayer cannot be shortened.

That is the essential description of "How many rakats are there for prayer while traveling?" As Muslims, we must understand

That's the essential description of "How many rakats for prayer while travelling." As Muslims, we must understand this.

Dear visitors, that was a brief overview of prayer when travelling, the rakats for prayer, and some essential aspects related to it. Do you understand? If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

I believe that is sufficient for this short post. I hope you find it helpful. Ameen.

See you once again in the next short post!

Akhmad Syafiuddin
Akhmad Syafiuddin An expert in Islamic discourse and law, and a graduate of Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

6 comments for "Understanding Prayer When Travelling: How Many Rakats Should You Perform?"

Comment Author Avatar
I am truly grateful to the author for writing such an informative and well-structured post on the topic of prayer while traveling. As a Muslim, it's essential to understand the specific rules related to our prayers when we are on the go, and this article provides a comprehensive explanation of these matters. From the basic definition of prayer when traveling to the importance of maintaining our prayer obligations, the article does a fantastic job of breaking everything down in simple terms.

The author does an excellent job explaining the various options for performing prayers while traveling, such as shortening the rakats for Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha prayers, and combining them using Jama Taqdeem or Jama Takheer. This is extremely helpful for those who often find themselves on long trips and want to make sure they are following Islamic principles properly.

Additionally, I appreciate how the article highlights the number of rakats for each prayer during travel. This information is clear and practical for anyone looking to perform their obligatory prayers correctly while traveling. The explanations are straightforward and accessible, making it easy for even those new to the topic to grasp the concepts.

The author's approach to making this complex subject easy to understand shows great effort, and it reflects a deep understanding of the Islamic rules concerning travel and prayer. I also want to thank the author for making the topic accessible and easy to digest, as it's not always easy to find such clear and concise articles on this subject.

Once again, thank you for this amazing article. It has certainly increased my knowledge on the subject, and I'm sure it will help many others who read it. I look forward to more posts like this in the future!
Comment Author Avatar
Hello Hafsa,

Thank you for reading this article.

Warm regards.
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As a new Muslim, I am incredibly grateful for this article. It has clarified the essential aspects of performing prayers while traveling, a topic I had many questions about. The explanations are simple yet comprehensive, making it easy for anyone, especially a beginner, to understand. I now feel more confident about combining and shortening my prayers during my travels. The way the rakats are explained for each prayer – from Fajr to Isha – is very helpful, and I truly appreciate how the article breaks down the different options like Jama Taqdeem and Jama Takheer. It's evident that the writer understands the struggles a traveler faces and provides solutions that are practical and easy to follow. I also appreciate how this article emphasizes the importance of maintaining the obligation of prayer even while on the go. It reinforces that, regardless of circumstances, we must continue to fulfill our religious duties. I feel more at peace knowing I can pray correctly while traveling, whether by shortening or combining prayers. This post has given me the knowledge I need to fulfill my obligations properly and comfortably. Thank you to the writer for this invaluable resource. May Allah reward you for making it so accessible!
Comment Author Avatar
Hello Rashid,

Thank you for reading this article.

Warm regards.
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As a Muslim woman, I truly appreciate this article on prayer when traveling. It provides a clear, detailed explanation of how to perform the obligatory prayers during a journey, which is something many people may overlook or find confusing. The breakdown of how to handle each prayer—whether to combine them, shorten the rakats, or perform them as usual—is incredibly helpful. I also love how the importance of maintaining our prayers despite traveling is emphasized. This is something we should always prioritize, no matter the situation, as prayer is a pillar of our faith.

The step-by-step instructions for each prayer—Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha—are concise yet thorough. It’s also great to learn about Jama Taqdeem and Jama Takheer, two methods that make it easier for us to stay connected to our prayers while traveling. This article not only clarifies the practical aspects of performing prayers while on the go, but it also serves as a reminder of how essential it is to maintain our relationship with Allah in all circumstances.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the author for taking the time to write this post. It’s an invaluable resource for Muslims, especially for those who often travel and need a reliable reference to ensure their prayers are performed correctly. Jazakumullahu Khairan for such an informative and helpful post. May Allah reward you for your efforts!
Comment Author Avatar
Hello Neswa,

Thank you for reading this article.

Warm regards.