Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
I am a little confused about prayer whilst travelling. I understand that Zuhr, Asr & Isha Salat should be shortened whilst travelling.
Walaikum assalam,
It is necessary for the traveler to shorten their prayers, when:
a) praying alone;
b) leading others.
When praying in congregation, one prays the number of rakats the imam prayed. [Maraqi]
When one prays in Jamaat (not in the mosque), should the traveller lead the prayer – pray the 2 rakats, and then the followers get up and complete their 4 rakats; or does it not matter whether the traveller reads 2 or 4 (for these shortened salats) whilst travelling & praying in Jamaat (not in the mosque)?
If the imam is a traveler, he must shorten.
The followers who are residents (i.e. non-travellers) must complete their prayers.
Is it allowed (Makruh, Mubah or Mandub) to pray the Zhur/Asr/Isha salats in the mosque whilst travelling, bearing in mind that these should be shortened to 2 whilst travelling?
It is still highly praiseworthy to pray in the mosque.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani,
Amman, Jordan.