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Travel: What if I forget to shorten?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Qibla.com

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

1) I keep forgetting that I’m traveling, and I keep praying regular prayers instead of shortening. (I always remember after I’m done praying completely.) Just to confirm, I have to repeat the salat, correct? I just found out now that this has to be done, so do I have to repeat all the prayers that I’ve done incorrectly since beginning my travels or can I just repent and try to remember to shorten from here on out?

2) If I’m praying behind a Shafi’i Imam who is praying regular prayers instead of traveling prayers, do I :
a) pray my two while he keeps praying four? Or do I pray the same number of rakat as the Imam prays?
b) If I forget that I’m supposed to pray only two and realize it in my third rakat, I can’t do the prayer of prostration at the end b/c my Imam isn’t doing it, or can I? If so when and how? If not, do I have to repeat the prayer again? 

Answer:
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

1. In the Hanafi school, it is necessary (wajib) to shorten prayers, [Shurunbulali, Imdad al-Fattah; Haskafi, Durr al-Mukhtar] because of the following hadith:

Sayyida A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) said, “Prayer was made obligatory as two rakats. Then the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) migrated, and the obligation became four rakats, while the traveller’s prayer remained as it was.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

2. The ruling of leaving a necessary action, in general, is that:

a) if left forgetfully, then it is necessary to perform forgetfulness prostrations at the end of the prayer;

b) if left forgetfully did not do (a), then it is necessary repeat the prayer;

c) if left intentionally, one must repeat the prayer.

In the two cases when it is necessary (wajib) to repeat the prayer, it would be sinful no to repeat it within the time. After the time goes out, one is still expected to repeat it, though one may take a dispensation and not do so for numerous past performances.

In all such cases, one would also have to repent to Allah for one’s remissness in learning and applying His commands.

2. When praying behind an Imam, one prays the same number of rakats as him. [ibid.]

Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani

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