Hadith 6

(The book) ‘Al Muqnie’ –
‘Abu Abdullah-asws was asked about a man who goes to a market to trade at it, and from his house it is upon a distance of four Farsakh’s (23km). If he goes to upon a riding animal, he would get to it in part of a day, and if he sails in the ship, he would not get to it in a day. He-asws said: ‘The rider who returns from his day will complete the fast, and one sailing the ship will shorten (Salat, and not fast)’’. [4]
Explanation –
And they are arguing upon that by a correct (Hadeeth) by Zurara (in Al Faqeeh) who said, ‘I asked Abu Ja’far-asws about the shortening. He-asws said: ‘A ‘Bareed’ (23km) going and a ‘Bareed (23km) coming, and it was so, whenever Rasool-Allah-saww came to (a place called) ‘Zubaba’, shortened (Salat), and ‘Zubaba’ is upon a ‘Bareed’ (23 km), and rather he-saww did that when he-saww returned. His-saww journey was of two ‘Bareed(s)’, eight Farsakh(s) (46km)’’. And it is supported by a ‘Mursal Hadeeth’ by Safwan (in Al-Faqeeh), who said, ‘I asked Abu Abdullah-asws about a man who goes out from Baghdad intending to catch up with a man upon a distance of a (Arabic) mile. He does not cease to pursue him until he reaches Al-Nahrwan, and it is four Farsakh(s) (23km) from Baghdad. Should he break (the fast) when he intends the return and shorten (Salat)? ’
He-asws said: ‘He should neither shorten (Salat) nor break (the fast) because he had gone out from his house and he did not intend the journey of eight Farsakh(s) (46 km). But rather he had gone out to catch up with his companion in one of the roads, and the journey got extended with him up to the place which he reached. And had he gone out from his house intending Al-Nahrwan, going and coming, it would have been upon him to intend a journey from the night (before), and the breaking (of fast). But, he came to the morning and did not intend the journey. Thus, there was a change of decision for him from afterwards to be travelling in the morning. So he should shorten (the Salat) and not break (the fast) for that day of his’’. It is reported that the Prophet-saww that whenever he-saww travelled one Farsakh, he-saww shortened (the Salat)’’. And from Anas (a well-known fabricator), ‘It was so, whenever Rasool-Allah-saww went out three (Arabic) miles or three Farsakh(s), prayed two Cycles Salat’’. It is reported from Ali-asws, he-asws went out to Al-Nukheyla and he-asws prayed Al-Zohr at it of two Cycles, then he-asws returned from his-asws same day’’. It is reported from the Prophet-saww having said: ‘It is not Permissible for a woman who believes in Allah-azwj and the last Day, that she travels a distance of a day and a night, not having a sanctimonious one (Mahram) with her’’. And as for the ‘(Arabic) mile’, it is reported by Al-Sadouq (in Al-Faqeeh) with an unbroken chain, from Al-Sadiq-asws it is one thousand and five hundred cubits’’. In (the book) ‘Al-Kafi’ it is reported that it is of three thousand and five hundred (cubits)’’.