TO BE CONSIDERED A TRAVELER
As Salaamu Alaikum,
QUESTION:
Can a traveler be considered someone who is travelling within Trinidad and Tobago? Does the 48 miles count within a person’s country? Or does the 48 miles considered only when someone who lives in Trinidad and Tobago leaves Trinidad and Tobago? Also does the 48 miles count for Trinidadians going to Tobago and vice versa?
Wa Alaikum As Salaam,
ANSWER:
- Yes, a person travelling within our Islands (Trinidad and Tobago) can be considered a traveler. If he/she is travelling from one place to another place, like from his home or a town to another town and crosses the distance of 48 miles or 77 km, then he/she will be considered a traveler and can thus shorten the 4 rakaats of Fardh Salah to 2 rakaats. There is no requirement for a person to first leave the Island in order to become a traveler.
- Yes, the 48 miles will also be considered for Trinidadians going to Tobago and vice versa. This means that Trinidadians going to Tobago will perform the traveler’s Salah as long as they do not stay for 15 days or more in any given town/city, and the same will be for Tobagonians coming to Trinidad. The reason is that the distance between Piarco (Trinidad) and Crown Point (Tobago) is 51.39 miles (for one who travels by air), and the distance between Port of Spain (Trinidad) and Scarborough (Tobago) is 64 miles (for one who travels by sea). Therefore, in both cases, a person would cross 48 miles which makes him a traveler.
And Allah Knows best
Mufti Waseem Khan
03/05/2022