The Ruling on Shortening and Combining the Prayers for the Traveller when He is in the Middle of the City

Question :

If I was travelling, and I stayed in the country to which I had travelled for three or four days, or less, or more, and I entered the mosque at Zuhr time and prayed four Rak'ahs with the congregation, then stood alone and offered a shortened 'Asr prayer, would this action of mine be permissible? And is it permissible for me to shorten and combine the prayers alone in the house due to my status as a traveller, when I am in the middle of a city in which there are many mosques and I hear the Athan?

Answer:

If the traveller intends to stay in a country for more than four days, he must complete his prayers, according to the majority of the scholars. However, if the duration of the stay is for less than this, then shortening the prayers is better, but if he completes them, there is no sin upon him. If he is alone, he may not shorten his prayers, but must pray in congregation and complete them, according to the Hadiths which prove the obligation of praying in congregation, and it is authentically reported in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad and in Sahih Muslim, on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Sunnah for the traveller when he prays with a resident Imam is to pray four Rak'ahs; and the general meaning of the Prophet's words supports this:
"The Imam is only placed to be followed, so do not contradict him.

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