Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Traveller's Ṣalah: Overstaying Rulings, Women's Journey, and Visa-Based Residency

Once I have finished my work I will return!

If a traveller stays somewhere for a few days or even thirteen to fourteen days with the intention of doing some piece of work or waiting for his relatives or returning after doing his work, he will be deemed to be a traveller and will offer shortened Ṣalāh even if many years pass in this condition because he has the intention of staying there for less than fifteen days.

(ibid, pp. 747, 'Ālamgīrī, vol. 1, pp. 139)

The rulings for woman's journey

It is not permissible for a woman to travel the distance of three days (approximately 92 km) or more, without a Maḥram. She cannot also travel with a minor or a partially insane person. During the journey, she must be accompanied by an adult Maḥram or her husband.

('Ālamgīrī, vol. 1, pp. 142)

If accompanied by a (reliable) Maḥram adolescent boy (who is near the age of puberty), a woman can travel. An adolescent Maḥram close to puberty is deemed to be an adult. The [accompanying] Maḥram must not be one who unnecessarily takes risks. Likewise, he must neither be a severe transgressor nor a vulnerable person.

(Bahār-e-Sharī'at, vol. 1, pp. 752, 1044, 1045)

Woman's parental home and in-laws' home

If a married woman resides in the house of her in-laws, then her parents' home is no longer her original hometown [Waṭan-e-Aṣlī]. That is, if her in-laws' house is situated at a distance of three days (i.e. approximately 92 km) from her parents' home and she comes to her parents' home without making the intention of staying there for fifteen days, she must offer shortened Ṣalāh.

After marriage, if she has not abandoned the home of her parents and just visits her in-laws' home temporarily, then her journey will come to an end as soon as she returns to her parents' home. Now, she must offer normal Ṣalāh [with the complete number of Rak'āt without shortening it].

(ibid, pp. 751)

Ruling for those staying in an Arab country on visa

Nowadays, many people along with their families migrate to other countries for business etc. They get the visa for a fixed period of time (for example, in U.A.E. a residential visa is issued for a maximum period of three years). This is a temporary visa and must be renewed after every three years by paying a fixed amount of money. Since this visa is issued for a limited period of time, the intention of staying there permanently [and making it an original hometown] is not valid even though one resides there with his family for one hundred years in this situation. U.A.E. cannot be his original hometown [Waṭan-e-Aṣlī] in this case. Whenever he returns from a journey, he will have to make the intention of staying [for the next fifteen or more days]. For example, a person living in Dubai travels – with a Sunnah-Inspiring Madanī Qāfilah of Dawat-e-Islami with the devotees of Prophet – to Abu Dhabi, the U.A.E capital, which is approximately 150 km away. Upon his return, if he wants to stay in Dubai, he will have to make the intention of staying for the next fifteen or more days otherwise the rulings of a traveller will apply for him. However, if it is apparent from his circumstances and condition that he will be spending fifteen or more days in Dubai, then he has become a resident.

If he does such type of business which involves Shar'ī-travel from time to time and hence is unable to live in Dubai for complete fifteen days and nights, he will remain a traveller and will offer shortened Ṣalāh although he pays visits to his family in Dubai for several years in this way. Those supplying goods to far-flung areas outside their cities, visiting different cities and countries and drivers [for transportation companies] must keep these rulings in mind.

An essential ruling for the visitor of Madīnaĥ

If a person has made the intention of staying (for fifteen days or more) but his circumstances indicate that he would not be able to stay for fifteen days then his intention is not valid. For example, a person travels [92 km or more] to perform Hajj and makes the intention of staying in Makka-tul-Mukarramaĥ for the next fifteen days despite the fact that the month of Żul-Ḥijja-til-Ḥarām has commenced. This intention of his will not count since he has intended to perform Hajj and will certainly go to Minā and 'Arafāt on the 8th and 9th of Żul-Ḥijja-til-Ḥarām respectively in order to perform the rites of Hajj. Therefore, he will not be able to stay for fifteen (consecutive) days in the blessed city of Makkaĥ. However, if he makes the intention of staying in Makkaĥ after he has returned from Minā, then his intention will be valid provided he could really stay in Makkaĥ for the next fifteen days or more. If it is quite likely that he will depart within fifteen days for Madīnaĥ or his own country, then he will still remain a traveller.

(Durr-e-Mukhtār, vol. 2, pp. 729; 'Ālamgīrī, vol. 1, pp. 140)

Over-staying for Hajj after expiry of 'Umraĥ visa

Those having the intention of staying illegally for Hajj after reaching Makkaĥ or Madīnaĥ on 'Umraĥ visas or those residing in any country of the world after the expiry of their visas will be considered residents until they live in the city or village in which they were living as resident at the time of the expiry of their visas. Even if they live there for decades they will still remain residents. However, if they travel from that city or village with the intention of covering the distance of 92 km or more even once, they will become traveller as soon as they leave the populated areas of their city or village, nullifying their intention to stay [for fifteen days or more].

For example, someone went to Makka-tul-Mukarramaĥ from Pakistan on an 'Umraĥ visa and was residing in Makka-tul-Mukarramaĥ as a resident at the time of the expiry of his visa, the rulings of a resident will apply for him in this case. Say he went to Madīna-tul-Munawwaraĥ later on, he would become and remain a traveller even if he lives there for decades illegally. If he returns to Makka-tul-Mukarramaĥ, he will still remain a traveller and will have to offer shortened Ṣalāh. However, if he gets his visa renewed, he can make the intention of staying [for the next fifteen days or more].

Remember! If the violation of a law leads to humiliation, bribery and lying etc., then it is not permissible to violate it. My master, 'Alā Ḥaḍrat, Imām-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, 'Allāmaĥ Maulānā, Ash-Shāĥ Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ الرَّحْمٰن has stated: Among Mubāḥ [permissible] acts, some are considered to be crimes from a legal point of view. Committing them (i.e. violating those laws) amounts to presenting oneself to be punished and disgraced, which is impermissible.

(Derived from: Fatāwā Razawiyyaĥ, vol. 17, pp. 370)

Therefore, staying in any country or for Hajj without a visa is not permissible. To declare this illegal stay for Hajj as a bounty of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and benevolence of His Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰہ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is a sheer folly.

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