When Can I Shorten My Prayers at My Workplace?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

My current workplace is 86 km from my home. I stay there 8 hours each days. Can I shorten my prayers?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

If your workplace is [approximately] 80km or more from your city boundary, you should shorten your prayers whilst there.

Normally, we are expected to shorten our prayers when the shari‘a says that we are travelling; hence, if you have to travel just to get to work, you would shorten your prayers.

Please also see: The Definition of a Resident Person & Traveler and: The Etiquette of Travelling: A Comprehensive SeekersHub Reader

And Allah Most High knows best.

wassalam,

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.