If one who is traveling decides to return and alters his travel plan should he shorten his
prayer on his way back?
Shortening the prayer when returning from cancelled travel plans
Question: 86
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.
If what remains from his return trip would commonly be known locally as “travel,” then there is no objection to his shortening the prayer. This opinion would be the ruling as per those who regard what is commonly accepted by custom and traditions in the local area as the basis for defining travel. As for the majority of scholars (al-jumhoor), they place the condition that the distance for the return in and of itself must meet the distance required to be considered travel (88.7 km plus or minus), even if he is returning to get something he forgot and plans to return to his original travel plans. This is because the return trip should be considered an independent travel in and of itself.
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Source:
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid