Question:
Assalamualaikum ustaz. I hope that you could give an explanation regarding Jama’ & Qasar.
The reason is every ustaz would give a different answer in the total number of days one is permitted to perform jama’ and qasar and the confusion of people in the matters pertaining to this issue. Hope ustaz can also explain the meaning and differences between musafir (traveller), muqim (temporary resident) and mastautin (resident). Jazakallah.
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam wbt,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
A musafir (traveller) is someone who is journeying for a distance of more than 2 marhalah or equivalent to 81km. Muqim (temporary resident) is someone who stays at a certain place for more than three days excluding the day he arrives and leaves. And lastly, a mastautin (resident) is someone who lives there and the place is his permanent residence.
As for the duration in which it is permissible to perform qasar and jamak for a traveller, it is for three days and three nights, excluding the day he arrives and leaves the said place. If someone has the intention of staying at a certain for four days or more, then it is impermissible for him to perform qasar and jamak as soon as he reaches his destination, for he is considered as a temporary resident. As for during his travels on the road, there is no limited total number of days and it is permissible to perform qasar and jamak until he reaches the destination of his travels. Refer Fiqh al-Manhaji (1/187).