Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question
I work in London but have a family in Nottingham. I traverse London Nottingham every week, spending four nights of work days in London. Is it permissible for me to shorten prayers while working in London?
Answer
Yes, you should shorten your prayers when you go to London for work. You are a traveler when you leave Nottingham with the intention to go to London, so you’d need to shorten from that point until you return. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]
Pray the sunna prayers when you are in London, but it’s permissible to omit them when traveling. Performing them is superior. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) told us that the two sunna units before fajr are better than the world and everything in it [Bukhari]. Imagine losing out on that on the Day of Judgement.
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani