Travelling is a regular activity that humans have practiced since the beginning of their life on earth. There are so many reasons why a person may travel from one place to another. There is always this drive to seek in other places that which does not exist where one resides.
Of course, travelling requires special preparations as it affects people's lifestyle and usually changes a lot of their ordinary practices. As Islam is a comprehensive religion that aims at regulating all aspects of human life and at providing people with guidance on the different circumstances they may encounter, it sets special rulings and etiquettes that suit the different conditions of travellers. Even the rulings pertaining to acts of worship change to meet the challenges that face Muslims during their travels.
What is a Journey?
Travelling is moving out of the built-up structures of alocality or residence intending a place whose distance issuch that it is permissible to shorten the prayer. (Mu~amlughah al-Fuqahaa)
Types of Journey
There are five types of journey:
Prohibited Journey: This is a journey undertaken to commit something prohibited by Allaah or by His Messenger (sallaallahu alayhi wa sallam) such as travelling to trade in alcohol and other prohibited things, armed robbery and a woman travelling without a mahram.
Obligatory Journey: such as travelling to fulfil the compulsory pilgrimage, for Umrah or compulsory Jihaad.
Recommended Journey: such as travelling for voluntary hajj, Umrah, jihad and to keep ties of friendship.
Permissible Journey: This include business trip and for all, other permissible endeavours.
Detested Journey: This is where a man travels alone without a company except where it is absolutely necessary based on the statement of Allaah's Messenger that
"If people were to know what I know (of the danger) in being alone, no one will travel in the night alone." (Bukhari)
These are the five types of travelling mentioned by scholars. Thus, it behoves the Muslim not to undertake a prohibited journey nor should he intend a detested one, rather, all of his travelling ‘should either be obligatory, recommended or permissible.
Scholars have differed on the type of journey which accords one the opportunity of benefiting from some of the conveniences provided for the traveller in the Sharee'ah such as shortening and combining prayers (box 2), leaving fasting during Ramadan (to be repaid at a later date), wiping socks and turban for three days and nights and offering supererogatory prayers on conveyances.
A group of scholars argues that all these conveniences are only applicable to the obligatory, recommended and permissible travels. As regards prohibited and detested travels, according totem, it is not permitted to benefit from any of these conveniences.
The second group of scholars argue that prayers are not to be shortened except while on journeys to carry out obligatory Hajj and Umrah rites as well as Jihad, because, according to them, a Waajib (obligatory deed) cannot be cancelled except for another obligatory action. Thus, anyone undergoing a permissible, prohibited or detested journeys may neither shorten nor combine prayers or any of the other conveniences of travelling.
The third opinion states that prayers are not to be shortened except in journeys undertaken in obedience to Allaah. This is because Allaah's Messenger shortened the prayers in obligatory and recommended journeys.
AI-Imaam Abu Haneefah and Shaykh al-Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah (RAH) and a host of scholars however, argue that it is permissible to shorten (and benefit from all An-Naseehah other travellers' conveniences) in all journeys, including prohibited ones. Ibn Taymiyah (RAH) said:
‘The proof is with those who permitted shortening and leaving fasting for all types of journeys without any distinction. This opinion is the correct for the Bookend Sunni are general on the journey." (Majmoo' Fatawa)
Etiquettes of Travelling
The following are some of the etiquettes a Muslim who intends to travel should adhere to in the course of his journey: Ask for Allaah's guidance it is recommended to seek Allaah's assistance to choose for you the best with regard to the timing, conveyance, companion and the route if there is more than one.
One should also seek advice from people who are good and well-informed (on the journey, the route and the location one intends to travel to). Thus, a Muslim should learn to offer istikhaarah before embarking on atria.
Repent from all sins
Regardless of whether the journeys that Hajj, Umrah or any other, it is incumbent on the intending traveller to repent from all sins and disobedience. The reality of repentance is quitting all kinds of sinfulness and abandoning them, feeling regretful of what has been committed in the past, resolving not to return to the sin. If the sin involves injustice to another person, then his right should be restored to him.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited