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
مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَٱسْمَعْ غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍ وَرَٰعِنَا لَيًّۢا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْنًا فِى ٱلدِّينِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَٱسْمَعْ وَٱنظُرْنَا لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ وَأَقْوَمَ وَلَـٰكِن لَّعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
Among the Jews are those who distort words from their [proper] places [i.e., usages] and say, "We hear and disobey" and "Hear but be not heard" and "Rāʿinā," twisting their tongues and defaming the religion. And if they had said [instead], "We hear and obey" and "Wait for us [to understand]," it would have been better for them and more suitable. But Allāh has cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few.
هَـٰٓأَنتُمْ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ جَـٰدَلْتُمْ عَنْهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا فَمَن يُجَـٰدِلُ ٱللَّهَ عَنْهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ أَم مَّن يَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكِيلًا
Here you are - those who argue on their behalf in [this] worldly life - but who will argue with Allāh for them on the Day of Resurrection, or who will [then] be their representative?
يَوْمَئِذٍ يَوَدُّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ وَعَصَوُا۟ ٱلرَّسُولَ لَوْ تُسَوَّىٰ بِهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَلَا يَكْتُمُونَ ٱللَّهَ حَدِيثًا
That Day, those who disbelieved and disobeyed the Messenger will wish they could be covered by the earth. And they will not conceal from Allāh a [single] statement.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ سَنُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا ۖ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقًّا ۚ وَمَنْ أَصْدَقُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ قِيلًا
But the ones who believe and do righteous deeds - We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. [It is] the promise of Allāh, [which is] truth, and who is more truthful than Allāh in statement.