Long car journeys, flights and holidays are a great chance to teach children that Islam is easy to practise anywhere.
Shortening (qasr)
| Prayer | At home | Travelling |
|---|---|---|
| Fajr | 2 | 2 |
| Dhuhr | 4 | 2 |
| Asr | 4 | 2 |
| Maghrib | 3 | 3 |
| Isha | 4 | 2 |
Allah says there is no blame on you for shortening prayer when travelling (Quran 4:101).
Combining (jam’)
- Dhuhr and Asr together, in the time of either.
- Maghrib and Isha together, in the time of either.
- Fajr is never combined.
When it applies
On a journey of roughly 80 km (about 50 miles) or more, according to many scholars. Schools of thought differ on the exact distance and how many days the concession lasts at the destination, so ask a trusted local scholar.
Practical tips
- Check prayer times along the route before setting off.
- Plan stops at motorway services; many have quiet areas.
- Pack a travel mat and a qibla app.
- On planes, pray seated if you can’t stand, facing the qiblah as best you can.
Teacher’s tip: let your child be the “prayer planner” for the trip: checking times, choosing stops and finding the qiblah. Children love the responsibility.
Related: Dua for travelling and rak’ahs in each prayer.
