وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَن تَقْصُرُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَن يَفْتِنَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ كَانُوا۟ لَكُمْ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا 101
Translations
And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy.
Transliteration
Wa-idha darabatum fi al-ardi falaisa alaykum junahun an taqsuru mina as-salati in khiftum an yaftinakumu alladhina kafaru. Inna al-kafirina kanu lakum aduwwan mubina.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah permits the shortening (qasr) of the four-unit prayers to two units during travel and times of fear, removing any burden or sin from doing so when threatened by disbelievers. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that this concession (rukhsah) reflects Allah's mercy and practical wisdom, acknowledging that believers in danger may be distracted from maintaining full prayer lengths, and that the intention and focus in prayer matter more than mechanical completion.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period when Muslims faced external threats from polytheistic Arab tribes and Jewish groups. It specifically addresses believers who traveled through dangerous territories, establishing the legal basis for prayer shortening (qasr as-salah) during both journey and fear—a practice exemplified during early Islamic military expeditions and trade journeys across Arabia.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (1087): The Prophet (peace be upon him) performed two units of prayer while traveling. Sahih Muslim (686): Abu Ayyub al-Ansari reported that the Prophet said regarding the shortened prayer during travel and fear, 'Allah has given you a concession, so accept His concession.'
Themes
Key Lesson
Allah's legislation balances spiritual obligation with human circumstances and safety concerns, teaching believers that religious practice should accommodate genuine difficulties without diminishing faith or commitment. This principle extends beyond prayer, reminding us that Islam is a religion of mercy and practicality, not burdensome rigidity in times of genuine need.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذَا جَآءَهُمْ أَمْرٌ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْنِ أَوِ ٱلْخَوْفِ أَذَاعُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۖ وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ وَإِلَىٰٓ أُو۟لِى ٱلْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَنۢبِطُونَهُۥ مِنْهُمْ ۗ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ لَٱتَّبَعْتُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
And when there comes to them something [i.e., information] about [public] security or fear, they spread it around. But if they had referred it back to the Messenger or to those of authority among them, then the ones who [can] draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it. And if not for the favor of Allāh upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Satan, except for a few.
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ وَٱتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۗ وَٱتَّخَذَ ٱللَّهُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ خَلِيلًا
And who is better in religion than one who submits himself to Allāh while being a doer of good and follows the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth? And Allāh took Abraham as an intimate friend.
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ وَلَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنِ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ وَإِن تَكْفُرُوا۟ فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَنِيًّا حَمِيدًا
And to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And We have instructed those who were given the Scripture before you and yourselves to fear Allāh. But if you disbelieve - then to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And ever is Allāh Free of need and Praiseworthy.
إِن تُبْدُوا۟ خَيْرًا أَوْ تُخْفُوهُ أَوْ تَعْفُوا۟ عَن سُوٓءٍ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا قَدِيرًا
If [instead] you show [some] good or conceal it or pardon an offense - indeed, Allāh is ever Pardoning and Competent.