ABBREVIATED VERSION OF PRAYER(QASAR)
The abbreviated (Qasar) version of Noon and Afternoon prayer is offered in Arafat while in Muzdalfa, the evening (Maghrib) and night (Isha) prayers are offered jointly one after the other.
According to Divine Law if a believer go out of his place of permanent residence and go to a distance of three day’s walk, he can abbreviate his prayer. That will be two Rakats of obligatory (Faraz) prayer. There will be no change, however, in three and two rakats of late evening and early morning prayers and three rakats of Vitar in night prayer.
A resident of Jeddah or Mak`kah if travels between either station shall not be a traveler (Musafir) since the distance between the two places in less than 48 miles or 77 kilometers. But one living in Jeddah when go to Mina and Arafat he becomes a traveler.
For a traveler (Musafir) it is prohibited to offer full prayer of Mid-Day, Afternoon and Night. It is rather a sin. However by chance or forgetting one offered full prayer, the prayer shall be considered as optional (Nafil) and he will have to repeat the prayer. Abbreviation is not applicable for Sunnah prayers. These shall be offered as prescribed. In a state of journey one can leave Sunnah if one is in a hurry otherwise there is no excuse to leave them specially of early morning (Fajar) prayer.
A pilgrim shall be considered to be a resident of Mak`kah if he is likely to complete 15 days in Mak`kah before 7th of Zilhijj. Such persons shall offer full prayers in Mak`kah, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalfa.
Resident prayer leaders in Mak`kah and Madina lead full prayers in their mosques. A pilgrim, who fall in the category of traveler (Musafar) as he do, when offering prayer in the lead of local prayer leader, shall offer normal and full prayer. Some ignorant people cut short their prayer in between. This is wrong and their prayer becomes invalid.
If the prayer leader, in Arafat, is a resident he will lead the full prayer without abbreviations. All those present in this congregation shall have to offer full prayer even if they are travelers (Musafir). If the prayer is being offered in the individual tents and in separate groups then it is necessary to confirm that the Imam is resident or non-resident.
If prayer leader in Arafat is non-resident, he will have to lead abbreviated prayer of mid-day (Zuhar) and Afternoon (Asr) ie two rakats only for each time. Those who are in the congregation and are traveler (Musafir) they will follow the leader for abbreviated prayer. But those who fall in resident category even in Arafat shall complete full prayer without breaking the continuity after the Imam had closed his prayer. If they make any mistake in their last two Rakats they need not to say rectification Sijda since they are still behind the Imam.
If a prayer leader in Mina or Arafat is a resident he shall not abbreviate the prayer. It he does so, his prayer and of those who are following him shall be void. On such occasion the pilgrim, should arrange their congregation at their place of stay i.e. tents and that may be abbreviated or full as the situation demands.
As soon as the flight schedule is announced, the intending Hajj pilgrims should approach some Mufti or religious scholar to know exactly where Qasr (abbreviated) prayers is to be offered particularly with respect to stay in in Makkah which shall be of 15 days or less, since in case of a 15 days stay in Makkah upon 7th of ZilHijjah, he will be considered a resident and not a Musafir or say any other matter related to prayer (Salat).
other links
How to apply for Hajj
There are two types of Hajj travel facilities available in Pakistan.
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Learn the issues ralated Hajj
Having submitted the application for Hajj an intending Haji should familiarise and try to know each and every thing.
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Duties towards Fellow Humans
Every Haji should know and understand his duties owed to God (Huqooq Allah), his duties and responsibilities towards fellow human beings (Huqooq-ul-Ibad). God forgives things which is owed to him by his servants, if He please, provided the sinner repents and affirms not to repeat such acts..
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Important Things to Know
- Every pilgrim should have well acquaintance with his group leader and other members of the group.
Essential items to be carried by an Haji are: More...
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Circumambulation (Tawaf)
- (A) The Excellence of Tawaf
- (B) Kinds of Tawaf
- (C) Rules and Etiquettes of Tawaf
- Meeqat
- Ehram for travelers by air
other topics
Certificate of Authenticity
Medical Tips
Necessary precautions
A Lifelong Charity
Chronicals from the Prophet’s words
Mak`kah and the sanctified House of Allah
The Prophet’s edict about Ka`abah
The Excellence of Black stone
Some sayings of the Prophet about Hajj
Hajj, The obligatory Pillar of Islam