Chapter on the Prayer During Travel

Sa’ad, from Abu Ja’far, from al-Hasan ibn Mahbub, from Abu Walad al-Hannat, who said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام, peace be upon him: “Indeed, I had intended when I entered Medina to stay there for ten days, so I completed the prayer (in full). Then afterward it appeared to me that I would not remain there. So what do you see for me, should I complete (the prayer) or shorten it?” Imam عليه السلام said: “If, when you entered Medina, you prayed one obligatory prayer (salat faridah wahidah) in full, then you may not shorten (prayer) until you leave it (Medina). But if, when you entered it (Medina), your intention was to complete (the prayer), yet you did not pray in it one obligatory prayer in full, until it appeared to you that you would not stay. Then you are, in that state, at liberty (bil-khiyar); if you wish, then intend to stay for ten days and complete (the prayer), and if you do not intend to stay, then shorten (the prayer) until a month passes for you; and when a month has passed, then complete the prayer.”