Darul Uloom Trinidad & Tobago

Question:

Assalamualikum Mufti Sahib

If a person travel to another country for 3 weeks holiday can he lead salah for instance zuhr asr and isha salat,or he will be count as a traveller even if he stays six weeks.

Answer:

Wa Alaikum As Salaam,

When a person travels to another country and remains in a city for 15 days or more, he becomes a resident. In this state, he would perform the complete four rakaats Salaah of Zuhr, Asr and Isha and can even lead others in these Salaah. Therefore, staying in a city of another country for 3 weeks means that he will cross the amount of 15 days and will be required to do what has been explained above. Even if one is a traveller, he can still lead these Salah, however, he will perform two farz instead of four, and those who are residents behind him will complete their four farz (rakaats).

If however, a person travels to another country for 3weeks or 6 weeks for a vacation and does not remain residing in one specific city (place), and continues to travel to one city after another, in order to visit family and friends (while spending the nights at these different places), then he will be considered as a traveller even if his total stay in that country amounts to 3 weeks or more.

And Allah knows best,
Mufti Waseem Khan

7/6/2012