If a person is traveling between

Fatwa no. 13297 All praise is due to Allah Alone and peace and blessings be upon the one after whom there will be no other prophet! The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' reviewed the question submitted to His Excellency, Chairman by the Manager of Religious Affairs for the General Security, which was referred to the committee from the General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Scholars, no. 6072 of 26/10/1410 A.H. The following is the wording of the questioner: There is a training camp for the troops that participate in the safety of the Hajj, with its headquarters at `Arafah Many individuals participate in this camp, with many of them coming from outside Makkah and some of them from the city. They have to be on duty all the time and are not allowed to go out while the camp is being run, as they need to be ready to move to any of the sites whenever they are needed. We have major problems regarding two matters:Firstly: A problem of whether to shorten the Salah (Prayer) or offer it in full. Some people offer Salah in full, while others shorten it, relying on the Fatwas of some Du`ah (callers to Islam).Second: A problem over the Jumu`ah (Friday) Prayer. Some people insist (Part No. 8; Page No. 117) on performing it at the designated places for Salah inside the camp and others insist on performing it in the Masjid (mosque) built by the Ministry of Hajj, where Salah is only performed during the Hajj season as it is closed the rest of the year. We hope that you will answer the following questions:1. If the period of the camp is defined as being one month (more or less), what is the ruling on shortening the Salah or offering it in full?2. If the period is not known, and it is indefinite and subject to extension, what is the ruling on shortening the Salah or offering it in full?3. What is the ruling on performing the Jumu`ah Prayer in one of the places designated for Salah inside the camp or in the Masjid? Are those attending the camp obligated to perform the Jumu`ah Prayer?4. Regarding the people from Makkah who participate in the camp, what is the ruling on them shortening their Salah? Are they obliged to attend the Jumu`ah Prayer?

After reviewing the questions, the committee answered: It is obligatory for those attending the camp to complete any four-Rak`ah Salah (Prayer consisting of four units), to offer each Salah at its due time, and to perform the Jumu`ah Prayer in the Masjid. However, those who are not from Makkah and the length of their period of stay was not meant to exceed four days may shorten and combine their Salah as they have the same status as that of travelers. (Part No. 8; Page No. 118) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.