Rules about Sailors and People Traveling Very often

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, Tour kinds of people are required to perform their Salah (prayer) as complete on a journey or when at home. Of such people are muleteers, al-kariy (workers of muleteers), shepherds and mailmen, because it is their work.’” “In another Hadith it is said that a muleteer performs his Salah (prayer) as reduced if his journey becomes condensed which means, completing two days, journey in one day.”

“One of the two Imam (a.s.), has said, ‘Sailors when in their vessel are not required to perform their Salah (prayer) as reduced as well as muleteers and camel drivers.’ In another Hadith it is said that muleteers perform their Salah (prayer) as reduced when the journey becomes condensed, like walking two days of journey in one day.’”

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about a man who has a country estate where he goes and stays for one, two or three days. Is he required to perform his Salah (prayer) complete or reduced? He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to perform his Salah (prayer) complete whenever he is there.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who goes hunting for one, two or three days. Is he required to perform his Salah (prayer) as reduced? He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he cannot perform as reduced. However if one escorts one’s brother in belief, then it is permissible to do so. Hunting is a way of falsehood and Salah (prayer) is not performed as reduced.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘When you escort your brother in religion you can perform your Salah (prayer) as reduced.’” “A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Barqiy from certain persons of his people from Ali ibn Asbat a similar Hadith.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Arabs (desert dwellers) do not perform their Salah (prayer) as reduced because their homes are with them.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who has certain country estates which are near each other to which he goes and stays. Is he required to perform his Salah (prayer) as complete or reduced? He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to perform his Salah (prayer) as complete.’”

“About the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . one who is compelled and who is not a rebel or transgressor. . .’(2:168) abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, This rebel is a rebel to hunt. The transgressor is a thief and they do have permission to eat dead animals when they are compelled; it is unlawful for them. It is not for them as it is for the Muslims and they must not perform their Salah (prayer) as reduced (when hunting or stealing)”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who goes for hunting. Can he perform his Salah (prayer) as reduced? He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to perform his Salah (prayer) as complete, because it is not a journey in the way of truth.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of sailors and desert dwelling Arabs. Can they perform their Salah (prayer) as reduced? He (the Imam) said, ‘No, they cannot do so because their homes are with them.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about a man who goes hunting to a place which is one or two day’s journey away. Is he required to perform his Salah (prayer) as complete or reduced? He (the Imam) said, ‘If he goes to provide for his family, he is not required to fast, and performs his Salah (prayer) as reduced. If he goes in search for useless reasons then he cannot perform his Salah (prayer) as reduced and it is not honorable.’”

“I once wrote to him (the Imam) (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause. I have a few camels and I have a caretaker for them. At certain times I go to them on the way to Makkah because of desire for Hajj or for al-Nadrah (rarely) in certain places. Is it necessary to perform my Salah (prayer) as complete and fast, or as reduced? He (the Imam) wrote in answer, ‘If you are not always with them and do not go on the journey with them all the time except the journey to Makkah, you must perform your Salah (prayer) as reduced and do not fast.’”