SOLAT JAMAK AND QASR
We will start with Solat Qasr first for better understanding.
Solat Qasr = Shortening of 4 Rakaat Prayers to 2 Rakaat for Zuhr, Asr & Ishak (Fajr and Mahgrib not included)
Dalil (evidence) à [Quran 4:101] “When you travel through the land, it is permissible for you to shorten the prayer ..”
This is allowed when you are travelling to a destination of more than 80km (according to Mazhab Syafie).
You can only do Qasr from the start of your Musafir Period (travel) and ended when the Musafir Period expired. The start and end of the Musafir Period will be described below.
Solat JAMAK is combining two Prayer times together i.e. Zuhr with Asar (vice versa) and Maghrib with Isya (vice versa). Fajr not included.
Most layman Muslims associated both Jamak and Qasr together as a bundle used only for travelling. However Jamak has its own ruling separate from Qasr.
We must separate the concept of Jamak (combined) from the concept of Qasr (shortened).
Qasr is only when in Musafir (traveling) but Jamak is due to difficulties in keeping up with the prescribed prayer times whether you are traveling or not.
Both Jamak and Qasr were introduced (in the Quran and Hadith) into the Solat as a “Rukhsah” lightening of the prescribed Solah in certain situations.
JAMAK RULINGS:
Dalil (evidence) - [Sahih Muslim 704C) “Anas reported that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had to set out on a journey hurriedly, he delayed the noon prayer to the earlier time for the afternoon prayer, and then he would combine them, and he would delay the sunset prayer to the time when the twilight would disappear and then combine it with the 'Isha' prayer.”
The key points to take note of:
1- Jamak between Zuhur & Asar and between Maghrib & Isya’ prayers.
2- Distance of your intended Destination is more than 80 KM (according to Mazhab Syafie based on our modern metric unit) from your hometown.
3- Crossing the borders out of your Hometown (not your country) marks the beginning of your Musafir Period. In your return Journey, your Musafir period ends when you enter into the border of your Hometown.
4- Since you are in Musafir, you may also shortened (Qasr) your prayer on top of combining (Jamak).
5- You must do a Niyah in your heart that you are doing Jamak, eg. I am combining (Jamak takhir) Zuhur prayer into Asr time. Or combining (Jamak takdim) Asar prayer in Zuhur time. Niyah is after you have left your hometown.
6- You are still in your hometown while the first prayer time already started. However you delayed the prayer until you are outside of your hometown while the first prayer time has not ended. You may do Jamak-Takdim & Qasar. If the 1st prayer time ended while you are still on the way to the airport, then you do a Jamak-Takhir & Qasr.
7- If you reached your destination and stayed there for 3 Days (excluding the day of arrival and the day of departure), you are still within the Musafir Period. You may do Jamak-Qasr during the 3 Days you are there.
The Arrival day and the Departure day are outside of these 3 days.
Arrival day = you are in your Musafir period due to travelling. (You may perform Jamak-Qasr)
Departure day = you are going for another Musafir travelling. (You may perform Jamak-Qasr)
NOTE: So if you already planned to stay at the place for 4 Days, then you cannot do Jamak-Qasr while being there.
Evident - [Sahih Muslim 1352] Al-" Ala' b. al-Hadrami reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
The stay at Mecca after the completion of his rituals (of Hajj) is only for three days.
Standing while Praying in a journey & facing the Qiblah.
These two are Rukun of Solah for Fardh Prayer. This priority overwrites the priority of praying early within a Prayer time, example in these situations:
-> You are unable to pray standing & facing the Qiblah while on the vehicle (or plane) but you will have time to do Jamak Takhir (standing & facing Qiblah) when you reach the destination. In this case, you will have to delay your Solah until you are able to pray standing and facing the Qiblah.
-> There is a Musollah on the Plane or you are allowed to stand at the Door area. You may pray on time with Jamak & Qasar without delaying while standing and facing the Qiblah. Even if there is still time for the 2nd prayer after landing but you already done a Jamak Taqdim on plane, then your solah is already valid (since you are a Musafir).
Below are several scenarios for better understanding:
* Scenario 1: Your place of residence is Town A inside Country XYZ travelling to Town B in the same Country which is 100 KM (or more) away from your home Town A.
You are allowed to do your Solat Jamak (& Qasr):
- Your destination Town B is more than 80 km from your hometown while being in the same Country.
- Your Musafir period started when you have crossed outside the border of Town A even though you have only traveled 20 km since Town A is small. You are allowed to Jamak once your Musafir period started.
* Scenario 2: Your place of residence is Town A which is 100 km big inside Country XYZ travelling to Town B in the same Country.
- You have travelled more than 80 km but you have not crossed the border of Town A. You are not allowed to do Jamak-Qasr since your Musafir period has not started.
* Scenario 3: Your place of residence is Town A inside Country XYZ travelling to Town B in another country.
The same ruling applies. The distance of Town B (in another country) and crossing the borders outside of your hometown. Once you Musafir period has begun, you may do Jamak-Qasr anywhere, eg :
3A - You have traveled out of your hometown (Town A) and reached the Airport of your Country XYZ. You may perform your Jamak-Qasr prayers while at the Airport since you are already outside of your Town even though you are not outside of your Country yet. Your Musafir period has already begun even before boarding the plane.
3B - If you stop by a Mosque outside of your hometown, you could do Jamak-Qasr there instead of at the airport.
3C - You knew that your plane has a Musollah. If the start of the first Solah time and Take off time is near and might cause a hassle if you pray before boarding then you can do Jamak-Takdim-Qasr on plane after take off while standing and facing Qiblah.
3D - The plane has no Musollah and you knew standing for prayer is not allowed. If the start of the first Solah time and Take off time is near, try to Solah Jamak-Taqdim-Qasr (while standing) before boarding if you can make it. If not then there is no choice but to Solah while sitting on Plane.
* Scenario 4: Returning from your travel, you have landed at the Airport of your Country while it is Maghrib time. You can do your niyah of Jamak Mahgrib to Ishak since your Musafir period has not ended yet as long as you have not reach your hometown. When you reach your home, Maghrib is already over. You do your Maghrib in Isyak time and do your Ishak as per normal (4 rakaat). If it was Zuhur and Asar, both will be 4 Rakaats each.
* Scenario 5: You are on the plane while it is Maghrib time. The plane will land at your destination before Fajr.
After landing at the airport, pray Jamak of Maghrib in Ishak time. Isha' will be done with Qasr, no Jamak since it is Ishak time i.e you niyah for Isyak prayer is only Qasr.
Fardh Prayer while sitting in a journey.
You are unable to pray standing & facing the Qiblah while on the vehicle (or plane) but this is a very long journey (or flight) which overshot the combined Jamak prayer times. You are then allowed to do Solah while sitting on the plane seat (doing Jamak & Qasar). In this case you can do Solah on time once the Prayer time commences without delaying.
FRIDAY PRAYER
If you are in your Musafir Period, you are not to go to the Masjid for Friday Prayer because the Prophet s.a.w never prayed Friday Prayer when he was on a journey.
Dalil (evidence) [Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 705] Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, prayed noon prayers and afternoon prayers in combination for reasons other than danger or travel. Sai’d ibn Jubayr said, “Why did he do that?” Ibn Abbas said, “The Prophet intended to not cause hardship for anyone in his nation.”
When you are not travelling but the situation is tough to do a proper Solah in the allocated times.
The scenarios below are Jamak Tamam with no Qasr (No shortening of Rakaats).
* Scenario 1: You have an exam to take. The exam starts before Maghrib and will end into Ishak time.
Do a niyah of Jamak takhir during Maghrib time. Once the exam is over, do your Maghrib prayer (Jamak takhir) in Isyak time. Ishak prayer as per normal.
* Scenario 2: A surgeon starts his surgery early in the morning and it lasted until just before Maghrib. He can do his Zuhur prayer (Jamak takhir) during Asar time before Maghrib. Pray Asar as per normal.
* Scenario 3: You are stuck in a traffic Jam before Maghrib and lasted until after midnight. There is no way for you to stop your car and pray at the roadside without causing more Jams. Pray Maghrib (Jamak takhir) at Ishak time after you have gone out of the Jam. Pray Ishak as per normal.
* Scenario 4: A traffic policeman ushering traffic during an accident that caused massive jam. He may do the Jamak of his solah if the jam lasted many hours that will jeopardise his prayer time.
* Scenario 5: You are sick in hospital. You may do Jamak of your Solah if it is difficult to solah on each prayer time.
* Scenario 6: You are sick at home, eg. severe back pain or sever Diarrhea and you are very weak. You may Jamak your Solah.
* Scenario 7: Your flight is 4.50 PM. Asar is 4.40 PM. You have to board the Plane way before Asar.
While at home before you go to the Airport, Pray Zuhur as per normal. After that, Pray Asar (Jamak Takdim)
4 Rakaat since this is Jamak Tamam due to the hassle and your Musafir period has not started yet.